DSCC announces big TV ad buy targeting Cruz, Scott in Texas, Florida

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) announced Thursday that it’s launching a “multimillion dollar” television ad buy in Texas and Florida targeting vulnerable GOP Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Rick Scott (Fla.).

The announcement comes as a surprise, as Democratic senators did not expect their campaign arm to sink resources into those two big and expensive media markets while they also are aiming to defend endangered Democratic incumbents in Montana, Ohio, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

“Senate Democrats are expanding the map and going on offense,” DSCC Chair Gary Peters (D-Mich.) said. “All cycle long the DSCC has been preparing to take advantage of Sens. Cruz’s and Scott’s damaged standings in their states — and now our efforts in Texas and Florida are accelerating.”

“Democrats have strong candidates running effective campaigns in both states, and as we escalate our communications against Sens. Cruz and Scott, we will crystalize the case against them,” he added.

The Senate Democratic campaign committee did not say how much it would spend in those two Republican-leaning battlegrounds, but it previously announced a $25 million investment in direct voter contact programs across 10 stats, including Texas and Florida.

The DSCC’s announcement was greeted enthusiastically by Texas Rep. Colin Allred’s (D) campaign, which said the investment would build more momentum Democratic challenger’s campaign.

“Colin Allred has earned broad support from Texans, and our campaign has clear momentum,” Allred campaign manager Paige Hutchinson said. “Ted Cruz is weaker and more vulnerable than ever because of his failure to secure the border, his extreme abortion ban that has put women in danger, his efforts to cut Social Security and Medicare and his record of only looking out for himself.”

Cruz’s campaign expects Democrats to spend substantially more money in Texas than he will be able to raise to defend himself.

Allred raised a million dollars over 24 hours after speaking to a fired-up crowd at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last month. The excited crowd packed into the Windy City’s United Center chanted “Beat Ted Cruz!” as the Democratic Senate candidate left the stage.

His campaign announced last month that it has outraised Cruz’s campaign in every quarter since he’s been in the race.

Scott’s Democratic challenger, former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-Fla.), issued her own statement in response to the DSCC’s announcement.

“For the last year, our campaign has been working to reach every voter where they are. I’ve traveled across the state and heard from Floridians of all backgrounds about the issues that matter most to their families,” she said. “We’re making the choice in this election clear, and after 14 years of extremism and failure, Florida will come together in November and retire Rick Scott.”

Updated at 3 p.m.