NASHVILLE – A Tennessee group funded by the conservative Koch political network has launched a $2 million TV and digital ad buy targeting Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Phil Bredesen over actions he took or proposed while serving as Tennessee’s governor.
Americans for Prosperity-Tennessee’s 30-second spot slams the former two-term governor for multimillion-dollar renovations he made to the governor’s mansion as well as a number of tax and fee hikes Bredesen either initiated or floated during his 2003-2011 tenure.
The state group is an arm of the national advocacy group funded by billionaire Charles Koch. AFP backs Republican U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn in the Nov. 6 contest to succeed retiring U.S. Sen Bob Corker, a Chattanooga Republican.
AFP’s ads, the first negative attacks of the campaign, are scheduled to run on broadcast and cable TV as well as online through Sept. 16.
But other outside groups are either already spending or plan to. For example, the Senate Leadership Fund, aligned with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and the Democratic-aligned Majority Forward super PACs have already plunked down about $1.3 million each to air TV and radio ads in Tennessee. Those, however, are positive spots backing their respective candidates.