(Joshua Paladino, Headline USA) The Senate Leadership Fund, an establishment Republican Super PAC, has pulled $9.6 million in advertisements slated to support Arizona Senate candidate Blake Masters, but other groups have covered most of the losses, The Hill reported.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has close ties with the SLF, leading some America First conservatives to speculate that the establishment powerhouse pulled the ads to prevent the Republican Party from falling from his grip.
SLF spokesman Jack Pandol on Tuesday confirmed the decision to pull the ads, which would have run from Oct. 4 until election day, but he assured Republicans that it had nothing to do with Masters being a political outsider attached to the America First movement.
Six groups—Sentinel Action, Saving Arizona, Our American Century, the Senate GOP’s campaign arm, Club for Growth and Restoration PAC—have pledged $7.5 million toward the ad buy.
Pandol said that One Nation, a non-profit group that works with SLF, helped Masters this summer with $5.2 million in advertisements.
One Nation President Steven Law said the other contributions to Masters’ campaign has allowed the Super PAC money to help with different races across the country.
“We’re glad to see Republican outside forces showing up in a big way in Arizona, with millions in new spending pledged to take down Mark Kelly in the final stretch,” he said. “This allows us to pursue offensive opportunities, maximize our investment in existing commitments, and concentrate our efforts to win the Senate majority.”
Law added that Republicans have “multiple pathways to obtain the majority” in the Senate.
Dispelling rumors of a rift between McConnell and Masters, the Senate Minority Leader will attend a fundraiser for Masters, according to the Washington Post.
SFL shifted the Arizona money to New Hampshire, Nevada and Georgia, showing that the Republicans hope to win more than a narrow majority.
