Democratic Super PAC attacks Heller for insufficient support of Trump, border wall funding
A Democratic-supporting Super PAC best known for involvement in West Virginia’s Senate race is running a series of last-minute digital ads attacking Republican Sen. Dean Heller from the right, citing his previous opposition to President Donald Trump and accusing him of voting against additional border security funding.
Duty and Country, a recently formed Super PAC that shares an address with top-spending Senate Majority PAC, has set up a website and run several digital ads attacking Heller for insufficient conservative bonafides, including his previous comments that he was “99 percent” opposed to Trump during the 2016 election. Heller later said he voted for Trump, and the president has come to several rallies on his behalf during his re-election effort.
The PAC has reported running two ads on Facebook that have between 100,000 and 200,000 impressions combined. One states that Heller “voted to cut rural health care and supported record cuts to Medicare,” and another called the state’s senior senator “soft” and says he voted against funding for a border wall with Mexico. The group reported spending around $83,000 on the ad campaign in a report to the Federal Election Commission.
Both ads include a link to neverheller.com, which echoes language from the digital ads and says he put his “personal politics” ahead of Nevada.
“And Heller talks tough, but he voted against the largest increase in border security in nearly a decade,” the ad states. “Heller even voted against funding for the wall.”
The PAC reported spending more than $1.8 million on negative campaign ads against Republican West Virginia Rep. Evan Jenkins in his U.S. Senate primary race, and another $400,000 attacking eventual primary winner and state attorney general Patrick Morrisey. It’s also reported making another $25,000 in spending to support Indiana Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly.
“Duty and Country” has raised nearly $2.3 million over the election cycle, with top donations including $500,000 from Greater New York Hospital Association, $400,000 from an executive with Euclidean Capital, $250,000 from Allied Wallet, $250,000 from Granite Telecommunications and $200,000 from Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf.