Republican PAC Buys Pro-Collins Ads in Portland, Oregon, Instead of Maine
A Republican super PAC directed at least $20,000 worth of advertising for Senator Susan Collins to Portland, Oregon, though she is running for reelection in Maine. The spot criticized Democratic opponent Troy Jackson over taxes, but few viewers there could cast ballots in her race. The group blamed its ad buyer for the placement error and said the ad was moved to Portland, Maine.
The Defending Main Street Super PAC Inc. spent no less than $20,000 on a commercial aimed at Maine’s Senate contest but delivered to Portland, Oregon. The ad attacked Democratic candidate Troy Jackson over taxes, yet almost no one in that media market could vote in Maine. Republican Main Street Partnership president Sarah Chamberlain told NBC News she was angry, attributing the mistake to ad buyer Cross Screen Media. She said the placement was removed and shifted to Portland, Maine.
Collins, the incumbent, has trailed Jackson slightly in several polls before the November election. The PAC said the error was not its own.
This mix-up could waste political money that might otherwise reach Maine voters, potentially limiting the ad’s persuasive effect in a close Senate race. Portland, Oregon, viewers may have encountered election messaging irrelevant to their ballots, while the PAC and its media buyer could face reputational questions. If the spot was quickly moved to Maine, the practical fallout may be modest, though it may still draw attention to how carefully outside groups target political advertising.