AFSCME targets Cravaack in new ad buy
The American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees is targeting 8th Congressional District Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack as part of a national ad buy.
We don't know much about the ad so far, but a press release from the group says that the spot will hold "Representative Chip Cravaack accountable for blocking the American Jobs Act, and preventing tens of thousands of teachers, first responders, veterans, and construction workers repairing crumbling bridges, roads and schools from getting back to work."
The U.S. House of Representatives hasn't voted on President Obama's entire jobs bill, but leaders have signaled that they support some aspects of the plan. The bill stalled in the Senate after Democratic leaders failed to secure enough votes to overcome a procedural hurdle that would have allowed the bill to move forward.
Cravaack will be one of nine lawmakers targeted by the six-figure campaign, according to AFSCME, which is Minnesota's largest public employee union.
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The group is holding a press conference this morning, so check back for updates to this story.
UPDATE:
You can watch the ad here.
It's slated to run in the Duluth market for about a week, and is part of an ad buy that nears $1 million. Similar ads will be running in Florida, Ohio and Nevada, among other states.
The aim of the buy is to put pressure on lawmakers who can go to their leaders and ask them to let the jobs bill get a vote, said Chuck Loveless, AFSCME's legislative director.
Cravaack is a freshman member of the House, but Loveless said his clout with party leadership lies in the fact that they want to see them reelected.
Andrea Bozek, a spokeswoman for the NRCC, sent us comment as well, writing that, "Instead of picking useless political fights Congressman Cravaack is focused on reaching some common ground on removing barriers to job growth."