Outside group praises Ron Johnson for fighting Iran deal

An outside group is weighing into a top Senate race next year, praising Sen. Ron Johnson’s (R-Wis.) criticism of the Iran nuclear deal. 

 

Restoration PAC, an Illinois-based group focused on keeping a Republican Senate majority, has launched a TV ad supporting Johnson, who has been a vocal skeptic of the final Iran nuclear deal released earlier this month. 

{mosads}”Some of our leaders, like Ron Johnson, understand that preventing Iran from getting the bomb is essential to our safety,” the ads narrator says. “Others, like President Obama, insist on signing a toothless agreement that makes us less safe.”

The ad, which began airing Wednesday, will run in the Madison, Milwaukee and Green Bay TV markets in Wisconsin.

Doug Truax, founder and executive director of Restoration PAC, praised Johnson in a statement, saying that “America’s weakness on the world stage brings us closer to war, not peace. Ron Johnson understands this and Restoration PAC is supporting those who understand our history.”

The ad originally featured what appeared to be a photo of President Obama shaking hands with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, though the photo is reportedly a version of a photo of Obama meeting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. 

A spokesman for Restoration PAC told The Hill the image “was not doctored by us,” but has since been replaced.

 

“Out of an abundance of caution, we swapped the photo for side by side pictures of Obama and Rouhani. The original image was not central to the point of the ad,” the group said.

The ad comes days after the administration handed over the agreement to Congress, starting the 60-day period for congressional review Monday. 

 

Feingold entered the Senate race in mid-May and raised $2.2 million, during the Federal Election Commission’s latest quarter. Johnson raised $2 million during the same quarter.