The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee had planned to run political commercials for the final two weeks until the Nov. 2 election. It has now scaled back its ad buy to just the final week, which begins Oct. 26.
In the Philadelphia media market there are a number of very competitive or high-profile congressional races, including the seats currently held by U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, a Democrat, in Bucks County and U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, a Republican, in the Lehigh Valley. The Philadelphia market also includes northern Delaware and southern New Jersey.
Now the good news is this is not a complete removal of ad time. Ads will run in the final week but will this hurt Rep. Murphy? Will Rep. Dent be in office? Was this is a move to avoid simply an expensive media market to supplant ads for weaker more senior dem congressman like Rep. Costa in California or Rep. Spratt in South Carolina?
DCCC keeps saying, in general, their candidate is strong and blah blah, but I can't help but feel this is a missed opportunity to secure the burbs of Philly blue. Murphy has been a leader on DADT repeal, Callahan is a popular mayor of Bethlehem, and Trivedi is a surgical military doctor. In a word, amazing dynamic people to represent the district.
Realistically, yeah, these seats are typically lost in a swing year and DCCC is believing privately as well hedge its bets and shore up senior incumbents, but I hope the voters in suburbs of Philly prove us wrong.
