The political nonprofit aligned with President Trump said Friday that it is readying a million dollar attack on Sen. Dean Heller for opposing his party’s proposal to partially repeal Obamacare.
The Nevada Republican said during a news conference in Las Vegas that he could not support the Better Care Reconciliation Act, introduced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on Thursday, because it would harm the expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare that was embraced by his state.
Within hours, America First Policies confirmed to the Washington Examiner that it planned to buy advertising critical of Heller and air it on Nevada television. An official with the organization said in a text message exchange that the details were “forthcoming.” The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman first reported the news via Twitter.
Heller’s office had not responded to a request for comment when this story posted.
The NRSC, formerly the National Republican Senatorial Committee, did not respond to a request for comment. But a former NRSC official call America First’s plans strategically shortsighted. “If true, it’s totally insane. It will put them on opposite sides of the party, donors and common sense.”
Heller is one of just two vulnerable Republican senators on the 2018 ballot, and has absorbed around $5 million in attack ads already this year from liberal groups. America First Policies following through with its planned advertising, especially a seven-figure buy, could create another headache for the Republican as he prepares to run for re-election in a diverse state that voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton and now Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., last year.
Trump views passing a health care overhaul as a major priority and has previously threatened to campaign against congressional Republicans who oppose his agenda, but never but never did so. His official outside group targeting Heller would be unusual, especially because the 52-seat Senate majority can’t afford to lose many votes on legislation and he has voted with the president on most issues.
Heller never embraced Trump during the 2016 election and was critical of his style and rhetoric. That could have something to do with America First’s apparent snap decision to retaliate.
