Realtors PAC continues to spend big, adds two GOPers

The political action committee for the National Association of Realtors continues to have a big early presence in individual congressional races, spending more than $1.3 million last week on two Republicans and one Democrat. 

The PAC, which spent the second-most on congressional independent expenditures in 2006, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, has already eclipsed its involvement from that cycle, spending nearly $4 million combined in seven battleground districts this year.

{mosads}This past week, it added GOP Reps. Christopher Shays (Conn.) and Joe Knollenberg (Mich.) to its list of beneficiaries and continued to spend heavily on Democratic Rep. Paul Kanjorski (Pa.).

The PAC spent the most on Knollenberg, who faces a tough race against former state lottery commissioner Gary Peters (D). The committee spent $530,000 on Knollenberg, including dispatching $230,000 in TV ads and $260,000 in direct mail, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports.

Shays, who faces businessman Jim Himes, received $510,000 in assistance, including $260,000 in direct mail and $210,000 on TV ads. Both Shays and Knollenberg got about $40,000 in surveys, as well.

The PAC also spent another $60,000 on radio ads and $220,000 on direct mail for Kanjorski, who is one of the most vulnerable Democrats in the House in his matchup against Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta (R).

The Realtors have now spent $890,000 total on Kanjorski. That investment is second only to the $990,000 the PAC spent in April and May on failed New Mexico GOP congressional candidate Monty Newman, who is a realtor.

The PAC has also spent significant money this cycle on Democratic Reps. Jerry McNerney (Calif.) and Ciro Rodriguez (Texas) and former Rep. Al Wynn (D-Md.).

It spent $200,000 last week on Rodriguez, who is trying to hold his western Texas seat against Bexar County Commissioner Lyle Larson (R), and has spent $510,000 on McNerney, a freshman facing Republican Dean Andal.

Wynn lost his primary to now-Rep. Donna Edwards (D) in February, making the PAC winless in two primary efforts.

The Realtors spent $3.7 million on independent expenditures in 2006, which was second only to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) PAC.