Senate Majority PAC launches digital ad campaign against Portman

A major Democratic super-PAC launched digital ads in Ohio on Thursday, hitting Sen. Rob Portman’s (R-Ohio) reelection bid and record in Washington.

{mosads}The Senate Majority PAC, run by allies of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), launched a $1.5 million national digital campaign last month targeting vulnerable Republicans running for Senate. The ads will run on Facebook, Twitter and Google.

Portman is running for reelection in what is considered one of most competitive Senate races of this cycle. Former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland — the establishment favorite — and Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld are running for the Democratic nomination.

The ads knocked Portman for voting to cut Medicare and raising the eligibility age to receive those benefits and supporting the privatization of Social Security.

The ads link to Senate Majority PAC’s report on Portman’s voting record, labeling it an “anti-senior agenda.”

Shripal Shah, spokesman for Senate Majority PAC, said in a release, “Portman has repeatedly voted against the interests of people across Ohio, particularly seniors who would’ve been devastated by his anti-Medicare and anti-Social Security agenda. Our campaign is going to make sure people across the state know the truth about his reckless record.”

Portman campaign manager Corry Bliss hit back at the ads and panned Strickland’s record. 

The super-PAC’s digital campaign has already lobbed attacks against Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Rep. Joe Heck (R-Nev.), who both face tough reelection races in key swing states.

The group has also run TV ads — the first of the 2016 cycle — against Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), another Republican incumbent running in a critical battleground state.

Senate Democrats and Republicans are in a heated battle over the majority this cycle.

Democrats need to net five Senate seats in 2016 to regain a majority in the upper chamber — unless they retain the White House. Then a net gain of four seats would give them the majority, with the vice president breaking a 50-50 tie.

Democrats are considered to have an advantage in that they are only defending 10 Senate seats, while the GOP is defending 24 seats.