South Carolina: DCCC Makes TV Buy in Sanford Special Election
Updated 1:18 p.m. | The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has reserved airtime in South Carolina’s 1st District special election, two GOP sources tell CQ Roll Call.
The buy comes less than 24 hours after the House GOP’s campaign arm abandoned their nominee, former Gov. Mark Sanford, announcing they would not make any expenditures to help him win the safe GOP district.
Sanford faces Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch on May 7.
The buy is for at least $143,000, a GOP source noted. It will run April 19-28.
Meanwhile, Sanford’s campaign bought airtime this week, spending about $100,0000.
But Sanford will likely go alone on the airwaves. This week, the National Republican Congressional Committee confirmed they will not buy airtime in the race.
Two outside GOP groups, the Club for Growth and the Congressional Leadership Fund, told CQ Roll Call on Wednesday that they had no plans to spend on his behalf. Sources noted that no other GOP groups had made reservations on his behalf as of Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, House Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC, went up with a negative ad against Sanford on Wednesday — a “mid-six-figure ad buy,” according to National Journal.
The DCCC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Updated 1:18 p.m.
Democratic sources confirm the media buy. The DCCC will air ads between April 19-28 on broadcast and cable in the Charleston and Savannah media markets. The total will be “approximately” $205,000.