Republicans hit South Dakota airwaves with first of $1 million ad campaign
updated 5:06 PM EDT, Tue October 14, 2014
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Washington (CNN) -- The National Republican Senatorial Committee pushed its first TV spot in a $1 million ad campaign in South Dakota to attack the Republican nominee's top two opponents in what has become a competitive three-way race for the seat.
The 30-second spot, which hit South Dakota airwaves Tuesday, links Democratic opponent Rick Weiland and Republican-turned-Independent former Sen. Larry Pressler as holding the same positions on gun laws, energy and Obamacare and comes less than a week after Democrats announced their own $1 million campaign to attack Republican nominee former Gov. Mike Rounds.
Republicans also deployed two political operatives to South Dakota to boost Rounds' campaign operation.
The ad features two balloons with Rounds' opponents names, pointing out that "Rick Weiland and Larry Pressler have a lot in common." By the end of the ad, both balloons have deflated because "when it comes to looking out for South Dakota, they both fall flat."
"Weiland supports Obamacare, just like Pressler," the ad claims, adding that Rounds' Democratic and Independent opponents also favor "stricter gun laws" and "want you to pay more for your energy."
For now, Rounds still leads the four-man pack, which also includes Independent Gordon Howie, a social conservative running to Rounds' right who barely registers in the polls.
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A SurveyUSA poll released last week showed the race is a three-way split with Pressler trailing the Republican nominee by just three points, with Weiland another four points behind the independent.
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Republicans hit South Dakota airwaves with first of $1 million ad campaign