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Democratic Super PAC Targets Senate Republicans Over Curiel

Donald Trump's Criticism of Federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel Is Fodder for a New Democratic Attack

Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., departs from a fundraiser sponsored by the To Protect Our Heritage Politcal Action Committee, at The Art Center, in Highland Park, Ill., Sunday, April 3, 2016. (Al Drago/CQ Roll Call)
Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., departs from a fundraiser sponsored by the To Protect Our Heritage Politcal Action Committee, at The Art Center, in Highland Park, Ill., Sunday, April 3, 2016. (Al Drago/CQ Roll Call)
By Alex Roarty
Posted June 7, 2016 at 2:32pm

A Democratic Super PAC is launching a paid social media campaign Tuesday targeting Republican Senate candidates over Donald Trump’s comments about federal judge Gonzalo Curiel, accusing them of standing behind a presidential nominee who attacked the judge’s ethnicity.   

Funded by American Bridge 21st Century, the ads will appear as GIFs on Twitter and Facebook. The online spots recite Trump’s accusation that  Curiel is biased because of his Mexican heritage.  

“But Senator Mark Kirk is still supporting Donald Trump,” the ad then says in one ad targeting Illinois GOP Sen. Mark Kirk .   

American Bridge is using the ads against nine GOP candidates: Kirk, Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr, Arizona Sen. John McCain, New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, and Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson.  

It’s also targeting Nevada GOP Senate candidate Rep. Joe Heck.  

The group declined to say how much its ad buy was worth.   

Senate Democrats and their allies hope to win back control of the upper chamber with a strategy of linking Senate Republicans to their party’s presidential nominee. Polls show Trump is the most unpopular major party presidential nominee in recent history.  

Contact Roarty at alexroarty@cqrollcall.com and follow him on Twitter @Alex_Roarty.

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