House Republicans make use of Obama in campaign ads

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

House Republicans rolled out late-campaign attack ads tying Democrats to an unpopular President Barack Obama on Tuesday as the chief executive embarked on a round of travel to boost gubernatorial candidates in a half-dozen states.

One week before election day, the television-ad wars neared a crescendo in the battle for Senate control.

In the area around Louisville, Ky., campaign officials said target voters could expect to see an average of 97 commercials related to the contest in the final week. The region is ground zero in the race between Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes.

Republican hopes of capturing the Senate received a boost in Kansas, where the Tea Party Patriots Citizen Fund announced support for embattled Sen. Pat Roberts in his race with independent Greg Orman — after opposing the 78-year-old incumbent in the GOP primary.

Republicans must pick up six seats to gain a Senate majority. They appear certain of at least three — in West Virginia, Montana and South Dakota — and there are nine other competitive races, including six for seats currently in Democratic hands.

Not even Democrats claim they have a chance to win control of the House midway through Obama’s second term, and Republicans angled for gains in areas where the president ran well in 2012.

The party’s congressional committee unveiled ads in 11 races and gave the president a featured role in most.

“Under Barack Obama, West Virginia has lost 5,000 coal jobs,” says one, targeting Democratic Rep. Nick Rahall.

“Send Obama a message. Defeat Ann Kirkpatrick,” says a second, airing in Arizona.

Obama’s travel plans for the next few days run to Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. He won all six in 2012, and all host gubernatorial races this fall.