EXCLUSIVE — Americans for Prosperity is pumping money into battleground states to amplify President Joe Biden‘s problems with persistent inflation.
AFP, founded by billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch, is spending “seven figures” on digital and connected TV ads from Thursday to try to help Republicans win five Senate races and 26 House contests, in addition to Washington, D.C., to win over the political chattering class, according to the libertarian-conservative nonprofit political advocacy group.
The 15- and 30-second spots, called “Costing Americans More,” 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 air 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.”
The Senate races targeted by AFP include those 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 include Reps. Mary Peltola (D-AK), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Josh Harder (D-CA), Mike Levin (D-CA), Yadira Caraveo (D-CO), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Darren Soto (D-FL), Eric Sorenson (D-IL), Frank Mrvan (D-IN), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Jared Golden (D-ME), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Don Davis (D-NC), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), Susie Lee (D-NV), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Pat Ryan (D-NY), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Emilia Sykes (D-OH), Susan Wild (D-PA), Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA).
AFP’s ad buy comes after a similar spend in March, though that was an “eight-figure” campaign. The organization’s strategy also includes a website, Bidenomics.com, and what it describes as “Bidenomics buses,” essentially an economic-centric voter listening tour. Tactics will include digital and mail outreach, door knocking, and phone calls closer to November’s elections.
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.
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“We’re seeing the great American comeback story all across Wisconsin and, quite frankly, the entire country,” Biden said this week in Racine, Wisconsin during an economic event. “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.”
