The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is reserving $10 million worth of television advertising time in Florida, a strategic decision that may have been prompted by the entry of a wealthy Republican businessman into the race for the state's open Senate seat.
- Early ad buy enables purchase of airtime at reduced rates
- Florida Democrats historically have not done well against wealthy Republicans
- Democrats hopeful that GOP national discord will affect down-ticket races
The businessman, billionaire real estate developer Carlos Beruff, is already running television ads. The blitz could allow him to break out of a crowded Republican primary field and win the right to challenge the Democratic nominee in the fall.
The DSCC's early ad buy both enables the committee to purchase airtime at reduced rates and take slots that would otherwise be purchased by Republicans off the board.
Florida Democrats have historically fared poorly when pitted against wealthy Republicans, having lost to Gov. Rick Scott twice in 2010 and 2014. Despite Beruff's virtually bottomless war chest, however, some party strategists are hopeful the GOP's national discord will percolate to down-ticket races, including the Senate campaign.
"They should be concerned anytime somebody jumps into a race who can fund it themselves," said political consultant Sean Pittman. "That's sort of elementary here. But, I think as long as Donald Trump is at the top of the ticket, the Democrats have a message that may put their candidate in a position to win the race."