GOP group launches $1.3M campaign targeting Trump-country Dems on ObamaCare

A political organization aligned with House GOP leaders unveiled a $1.3 million ad campaign on Tuesday that targets Democrats representing districts won by President Trump to urge support for repealing and replacing ObamaCare.

American Action Network’s campaign includes local ads in a total of 24 districts, as well as national TV ads on CNN and MSNBC. The ads focus on eight Democrats in Trump-country districts and 16 Republicans mostly representing swing seats.

The group’s advertising campaign in support of repealing the healthcare law will total $5.2 million for the month of January.

{mosads}American Action Network previously launched another ad campaign last week, costing $2.6 million, that thanked Republican lawmakers for trying to unwind the law.

But the latest round of ads specifically goes after eight of the 12 House Democrats in Trump districts: Dave Loebsack (Iowa), Cheri Bustos (Ill.), Tim Walz (Minn.), Collin Peterson (Minn.), Rick Nolan (Minn.), Jacky Rosen (Nev.), Matt Cartwright (Pa.) and Ron Kind (Wis.).

“It’s time for all Members of Congress to fix our broken healthcare system,” Corry Bliss, American Action Network’s executive director, said in a statement. “As conservatives, we will continue to stand firm against those who oppose patient-centered reforms and remind Americans of their elected officials’ record on this important issue.”

Then there are the 16 Republicans who will see the American Action Network ads in their districts: Most are lawmakers in competitive districts, like Reps. Jeff Denham (Calif.), Darrell Issa (Calif.), Carlos Curbelo (Fla.), Will Hurd (Texas) and Barbara Comstock (Va.).

Others are committee chairmen or members of the House GOP leadership team in safely Republican districts, such as Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (Va.), Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (Ore.), Majority Whip Steve Scalise (La.) and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Steve Stivers (Ohio). Walden’s committee in particular will be one of the most responsible for crafting an ObamaCare replacement in the coming months.