The conservative group Crossroads GPS, in which Karl Rove has been a key player, has reserved more than $500,000 in TV ad time in Nebraska, with an apparently very ambitious goal for the holiday season: Scaring Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson into retirement.
National Journal reports:
The three-month ad buy is apparently aimed at giving Nelson just a hint of the pressure to come, and maybe edge him out of the race.
“We want Ben Nelson to recognize that 2012 will be an extraordinarily grueling proposition in the case he decides to run,” said Jonathan Collegio, a Crossroads spokesman, in confirming the buy.
As TPM has previously reported, the group’s current anti-Nelson ad uses some very interesting language to describe Nelson’s vote for health care reform, and in particular his efforts to secure special money for Nebraska in the deal.
“He demanded a payoff — accused of selling his vote,” the announcer says — making it sound as if Nelson was seeking a personal bribe, rather than carved out money for his home state.
