Americans for Responsible Solutions is a public interest group that is making good on a vow from former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, to shine a light on legislators who voted against a bill to expand background checks on individuals seeking to buy firearms. Radio ads are the medium of choice.
The targets of the current campaign are Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and freshman Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH).
Both are attacked for ignoring polls indicating that a wide majority of US adults favored the legislation. The Ayotte ad gets specific, accusing her of ignoring the wishes of 89% of New Hampshire residents.
According to an NPR report, the McConnell ads are being aired in Louisville and Lexington, and the Ayotte ads are being aired in Concord, Manchester and Keene.
ARS is a super PAC created by Giffords and Kelly to press the issue of gun control.
RBR-TVBR observation: This campaign is a bit atypical of many political buys. Generally, targets are carefully chosen with an eye toward the prospects of having an impact on an upcoming election.
In McConnell’s case, the attack may actually help him. He is not believed to be in fear of a Democratic challenge in November 2014 so much as he is of a challenge from the right in a Republican primary. Being attacked by a pro-gun control PAC would actually help him fend off an intramural challenge.
In Ayotte’s case, she is not up for election until 2016.
It does go to show that income from the political category can show up any time, regardless of how far away the next election might be.
