EXCLUSIVE — Americans for Prosperity is pumping money into battleground states to amplify President Joe Biden‘s problems with inflation and hold Democrats to account for their economic policies before this November’s general elections.
AFP, founded by billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch, is spending “seven figures” from Thursday on digital and connected TV ads in five Senate races and 26 House contests, in addition to Washington, D.C., to appeal to the political chattering class, according to the libertarian-conservative nonprofit political advocacy group.
The 15- and 30-second spots contend Biden’s economic policies, known collectively as “Bidenomics,” are “failing American families,” AFP Government Affairs Vice President Akash Chougule told the Washington Examiner. They will be broadcast in states and congressional districts of Democrats who backed Bidenomics.
“Families are feeling the pain of Bidenomics, but President Biden’s allies in Congress are ‘proud’ of their spending record that has ignited higher prices and economic pain,” Chougule said. “Their vote for Bidenomics is costing Americans more.”
“This summer, our grassroots network will be crisscrossing the country to call out the steep costs of these policies in the states and districts where lawmakers played a key role advancing the Bidenomics agenda,” he added. “When Congress votes for Bidenomics, American families suffer.”
AFP is targeting the Senate races of Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).
The House counterparts are:
- Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK)
- Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ)
- Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA)
- Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA)
- Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-CO)
- Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT)
- Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL)
- Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-IL)
- Rep. Frank Mrvan (D-IN)
- Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS)
- Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME)
- Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)
- Rep. Don Davis (D-NC)
- Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH)
- Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ)
- Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM)
- Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV)
- Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV)
- Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY)
- Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH)
- Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
- Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-OH)
- Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA)
- Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA)
- Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA)
- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA)
AFP’s ad buy is part of an eight-figure campaign announced in March after its support of former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley‘s unsuccessful bid in the Republican presidential primary. The organization’s strategy includes a website, Bidenomics.com, and what it describes as “Bidenomics buses,” essentially an economic-centric voter listening tour. Tactics will also range from digital and mail outreach to door-knocking and phone calls closer to November.
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Consumer prices increased in April by 3.5% compared to a year ago and 0.4% compared to March. Biden’s average economic approval is net negative 18.5 percentage points, 39.6% to 58.1%, per RealClearPolitics.
“We’re seeing the great American comeback story all across Wisconsin and, quite frankly, the entire country,” Biden said this week in Racine, Wisconsin. “The bottom line is we’re doing what’s always worked in this country: Giving people a fair shot, leaving nobody behind, and grow the economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down. When that happens, everybody does well. Everybody does well.”
