The largest outside group planning to back former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is preparing its first major foray into the general election, reserving $70 million in television advertising time across seven key battleground states.
Priorities USA Action, the super PAC first established to help President Obama win re-election, will reserve airtime in Ohio, Nevada, Colorado, Iowa, Virginia, New Hampshire and Florida, spokesman Justin Barasky told Morning Consult. The ads will begin running after the conclusion of the Republican convention in July.
The New York Times first reported the buys.
Making reservations so early in the calendar will allow Priorities to lock in lower rates, and to buy advertising time on specific shows targeted at key swing or base voters. The reservations do not require Priorities to send an actual check until just days before the ads are to run, meaning the group — or any group making buys this early in the year — can alter their advertising strategy as events warrant.
Priorities USA Action is making the reservations through Targeted Platform, a division of the Democratic firm Buying Time.
The ad campaign will cover nearly every major market in the seven key swing states, Barasky said. The group will also spend millions on radio and digital advertising, though those efforts are not included in the early reservations.
Priorities USA Action reported having $44.5 million in the bank at the end of February, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission on Sunday. Over the last month, Priorities raised $2 million from Chicago businessman Fred Eychaner and $1 million each from New York billionaires Henry and Marsha Laufer. The committee also reported a $10,000 contribution from actress Jane Fonda.
