Dems targeted on Iran vote

Two Senate Democrats are under fire for not signing on to legislation that would allow Congress to weigh in on any deal on Iran’s nuclear program.

The American Security Initiative PAC is targeting Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) with the ads, which suggest the talks could leave Iran with weapons and lead to a terrorist attack.

The ad playing in New Hampshire, which is similar to one released by the group earlier this year, features the driver of a van listening to the radio. A sound bite from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) saying, “we got a North Korea in the making, one day you’re going to wake up with an Iranian nuclear weapon” is played.  

After driving into New York, the van, on the roof of a building, explodes before a voiceover tells viewers to “tell Senator Shaheen, no Iran nuclear deal without congressional approval before it’s too late.”

The group is spending $263,200 total in New Hampshire on broadcast and cable TV ads which began this week. The group is also using mail, robocalls and digital ads.

It’s also spending $258,950 in Delaware and Philadelphia against Coons. The TV ads, which began airing Friday morning, will air on broadcast and cable stations in Philadelphia. The group is also funding robocalls and digital advertising to try to persuade Coons.

The Democrats, who are not up for reelection until 2020, are members of the Foreign Relations Committee.

That panel is expected to vote Tuesday on the bill granting Congress a review of the nuclear deal.

The group is also spending $140,865 in Virginia to thank Sen. Tim Kaine (D) for his support of the Iran legislation. The TV ad, which also began Friday morning, is running in Richmond.

Former Sens. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), and Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) launched the American Security Initiative, a 501(c)(4), earlier this year.