The Associated Press
Seven high-profile national political organizations have asked television stations to set aside more than $80 million in airtime to shape Senate races between now and Election Day, Nov. 4. A look at where groups plan to empty their pockets during the next 5 1/2 weeks:
ALASKA: Republican-backing groups have reserved $4.5 million in airtime, led by $2.5 million from the Karl Rove-backed American Crossroads and its nonprofit arm, Crossroads GPS. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has booked $3.5 million in that state.
ARKANSAS: Republicans have booked $3.8 million in ads, trailing Democrats’ $5 million in a state known for its cheap airtime. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has reserved $1.3 million and the DSCC has booked $2.7 million.
COLORADO: Leading committees from both parties have booked $13.1 million, and it’s split about evenly. The biggest spenders so far — as in four other states — is the Crossroads network.
IOWA: Republican-leaning groups have booked $5.7 million in airtime, while Democrats have booked $8 million. Iowa is one of the few states where a Koch-backed group, Freedom Partners, is buying airtime. The group plans roughly $2 million in ads.
LOUISIANA: Republicans outpace Democrats by a more than 2-1 margin. Of the $9.2 million booked, $4.6 million of it is expected to come between the state’s Nov. 4 primary and its Dec. 6 Election Day.
MICHIGAN: The state’s Senate race is increasingly looking likely to stay in Democrats’ hands and is drawing less cash. The DSCC has reserved $4.8 million in ad time to the NRSC’s $1 million. Like all ad reservations, they can be canceled.
NORTH CAROLINA: Crossroads GPS has booked more than $5 million and accounts for the bulk of the GOP-backing $6.8 million in upcoming ads. Two Democratic-backing groups, the DSCC and Senate Majority PAC, have set aside $11.8 million.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Democrats account for the entire $4.4 million booked for the Senate race. Republican groups could add spending later.
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