GOP Plans $40M Ad Push for House Races

Vice President Dick Cheney, left, greets U.S. Sen Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., after speaking to a group of GOP donors, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2006, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) (Matt York - AP)

Plans also call for Republicans to run commercials in hopes of winning two open seats in Ohio that Democrats currently control, as well as one in Vermont being vacated by an independent who typically votes with Democrats.

However, the GOP has not reserved advertising time to aid Rep. Chris Chocola in Indiana even though Democrats plan to spend at least $700,000 to win the district. House Republicans have told Chocola that he must fend for himself, given his personal wealth and his ability to raise large amounts of money.

Also, no advertising dollars are slated so far to help GOP Rep. Christopher Shays keep his Connecticut district even though Democrats have reserved $2 million to try to unseat him. His district in the southern part of the state watches television from the New York City media market that's among the most expensive in the country.

The NRCC's plans could change. The committee continues to reserve airtime and it may adjust its strategy if the political landscape shifts between now and Election Day.

The same goes for Democrats.

Neither party, for example, has scheduled advertising in the Texas district of former Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who resigned from Congress in June, even though the seat is expected to be one of the most hard-fought in the country. Republican and Democratic strategists believe that both parties will end up running ads in the district before Nov. 7.

Placing reservations this far in advance allows congressional campaign committees to lock in lower advertising rates available at some television stations in the summer and ensure there is enough space left on the airwaves to run commercials benefiting their own candidates in the final days of the midterm election.

There are other strategic benefits as well.

Under the law, the NRCC, the DCCC and both parties' Senate campaign committees must conduct their multimillion dollar ad campaigns independently from the candidates they are designed to help.

By reserving airtime now, House Republicans are letting their own candidates know how much advertising help they can expect to get from the party, if any at all. Those candidates then can plan their campaigns accordingly.

Still, there can be risks.

GOP candidates and state political parties planning their own advertising can end up counting on the NRCC's help and become angry if the committee doesn't follow through.

Also, because the public information is widely available, Democrats are tipped off to the GOP strategy _ and can adjust their own plans to be more competitive.