Scoop: Conservative group's ad targets 10 Dems on immigration
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President Biden speaks during a campaign rally at Girard College on May 29 in Philadelphia. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
A conservative group with close ties to the House GOP leadership is launching a $9.5 million ad campaign targeting 10 vulnerable Democrats on immigration, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: The big buy by the American Action Network is a clear indication that Republicans believe that concerns about immigration and border security can help them win up-for-grabs congressional seats in November.
- Republican leaders, aligned with former President Trump, want to spread the blame for the record number of illegal crossings in recent years not just on President Biden, but on Democratic policies in general.
- The goal is to ink vulnerable Democrats with early decisions in Biden's presidency, which Republicans say led to a crisis at the Southern border. Biden's recent executive order — aimed at limiting the flow of migrants seeking asylum — won't fix the problem, Republicans say.
Driving the news: The issue ad calls on Democrats — some of whom represent districts carried by Trump in 2020 — to support legislation to reinstate Trump's "Remain in Mexico" policy.
- Trump's policy forced tens of thousands of asylum seekers to await their immigration court proceedings in often dangerous and squalid conditions in Mexico.
- Tailored to individual members, the new ads are scheduled to run in Alaska's at-large district, as well districts in Colorado, Maine, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington State.
Between the lines: By keeping the ad campaign focused on issues, the American Action Network, a 501(c)(4) group, can maintain its tax-exempt status. The group frequently runs summer campaigns on conservative issues.
- It's closely affiliated with the House GOP leadership's main super PAC, the Congressional Leadership Fund, which can engage in more direct political advocacy.
- Both groups can accept unlimited contributions, but only the CLF needs to disclose its donors under federal campaign finance rules.
Zoom out: Biden's executive order to limit asylum claims at the Southwest border grants him the power to essentially shut down the border.
- The move was an acknowledgement by the White House that unchecked immigration could hurt Democrats in the 2024 election.
- As expected, Biden's move has aggravated his progressive base. The American Civil Liberties Union quickly announced plans to sue the White House over Biden's move.
Zoom in: Last month, four of the Democratic lawmakers targeted by the new ad campaign called on Biden to reinstate the "Remain in Mexico" policy.
- But the ads are calling the Democrats to go even further, and essentially embrace most Republican positions on the border.
