Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley has pulled his campaign off the TV airwaves with under three weeks to go, an unusual step as national Republican groups retreat from North Carolina, according to Politico.
AdImpact data shows Whatley has no upcoming broadcast ad time reserved and that his last TV spot ran a week ago. The lull coincides with GOP groups, including the Senate Leadership Fund, scaling back in the state after concluding that unseating Democrat Roy Cooper, the former governor, is a long shot.
Whatley spokesperson DJ Griffin described it as a “temporary pause” and said the campaign would return with a closing message questioning Cooper’s health. Cooper’s spokesperson rejected that as lies from a desperate candidate, citing the more than 350 events Cooper has held.
Cooper, a former governor, has $7.4 million in future TV reservations, with $11.2 million more from allied groups, against just $4.7 million reserved by Republican outside groups, giving Democrats roughly four times the airtime. Candidates normally increase ad spending as early voting begins.
Doug Heye, a North Carolina GOP strategist, said the outcome fits expectations. “It was always going to be a tough seat for Rs to hold,” he said.
Cooper has consistently led in polling and fundraising. Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chair dogged by a number of scandals including his association with convicted predators, was Trump’s personal pick.
Old North Action has also stepped back, and Democrats are increasingly confident about flipping the seat, one of four they need to retake the Senate. The Democratic-aligned Senate Majority PAC has started pausing its own spending there and moving money to other competitive races.
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