DCCC reserves time in two districts

WASHINGTON – Two months after announcing its advertising plans for more than 50 districts across the country, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is making public its plans for defending an additional two incumbents in hotly contested races in Pennsylvania.

The DCCC tells PolitickerPA.com it will spend a total of $2.2 million combined this year to defend U.S. Reps. Chris Carney and Paul Kanjorski. Carney, a freshman, is facing a battle against Republican Chris Hackett, a staffing company executive. Kanjorski, a 12 term incumbent, is running against Republican Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta.

The committee has begun airing advertisements in both districts. To date, the DCCC has aired $220,000 worth of advertisements on behalf of Kanjorski and $37,000 in support of Carney. The DCCC went on the air with its first ad in support of Carney over the weekend.

The news of the buy comes as the DCCC continues its strong fundraising performance. In figures made public over the weekend, the committee out-raised the National Republican Congressional Committee $5.1 million to $3.4 million in August. The DCCC finished last month with a $54 million to $14.3 million cash advantage over the NRCC.

The DCCC made public its first wave of advertisements in July, when it announced plans to launch $53 million worth of ads in 51 districts across the country. Asked why the committee did not announce its plans for Carney and Kanjorski then, DCCC spokeswoman Jennifer Crider said the ad buys were not yet booked.

The NRCC has yet to reserve advertising time in either district, though it has given coordinated funds to Hackett and Barletta.