RNC launches digital ads praising Trump on coronavirus
April 10, 2020
The Republican National Committee is launching a seven-figure advertising campaign lavishing praise on President Donald Trump for his handling of the coronavirus outbreak, as the president confronts a sustained assault from liberal groups over his response to the crisis.
The $1 million-plus digital blitz, which will run across more than a dozen battleground states, is unusual: The committee rarely spends so heavily on advertising so early in an election year. But over the last several weeks, an array of liberal groups has spent millions of dollars on commercials battering Trump. On Thursday, Pacronym, a liberal super PAC, began running a web video hammering the president for initially downplaying the virus.
The RNC’s spots, by contrast, praise the president for his leadership. One spot, for example, spotlights clips of two Democratic governors, Gavin Newsom of California and Andrew Cuomo of New York, crediting Trump for his response.
Trump advisers have grown concerned in recent weeks about the lack of air cover amid the Democratic barrage. The anger was directed toward America First Action, a pro-Trump super PAC that for a time had remained on the sidelines. The super PAC finally announced last week that it would begin airing commercials defining Joe Biden in a trifecta of Midwestern states.
The RNC’s spots are targeted toward registered independents and moderate Democrats who party officials have identified as potential swing voters. The decision to run the commercials on digital platforms was deliberate. With online advertising rates cheaper during the crisis, party strategists say their ads will go further. And with many people working from home on their computers, the committee hopes to reach a substantial audience.
The commercials are slated to begin April 13 and run through May 4. The RNC is dipping into a sizable war chest: It reported having more than $76 million on hand in its latest finance report, giving it a substantial advantage over its Democratic counterpart.
Source: https://www.politico.com/
