Politics

GOP Tries to Capitalize on Expanding House Field

Pat McMahon Contributor
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Despite months of preparations by the House campaign committees, the latest party spending — largely to fund TV ad buys — demonstrates the Congressional playing field remains relatively fluid three weeks before Election Day.

Party strategists are making the final spending decisions in an expanding midterm battleground, as both sides continue to refine their target lists and move ad money around at an expedited pace. Giddy Republicans are even talking about a field of competitive races that includes Democratic stalwarts like Reps. John D. Dingell (Mich.), James L. Oberstar (Minn.) and Maurice D. Hinchey (N.Y.), whose defeats would produce a Republican wave much larger than the 1994 epic.

Over the weekend, the National Republican Congressional Committee’s independent expenditure arm reported spending more than $8.2 million, the bulk of which went to fund TV commercials targeting Democrats in 29 districts. The committee is engaged in 56 districts and has spent more than a half-million dollars apiece in 11 races.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has spent about $12 million of the $52 million committee insiders have said will be spent by Election Day. Republicans have spent nearly $20 million of an estimated $45 million.

Full story: CQ Politics | GOP Tries to Capitalize on Expanding House Field