In a sign of increasing confidence, the main pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC is dialing back ad buys in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Colorado to shift resources elsewhere.
“We’re constantly making assessments about how to make sure we’re spending our money efficiently and effectively,” said Guy Cecil, co-chair and chief strategist for Priorities USA Action. “It’s why we expanded our campaign into North Carolina. We’re looking at other states as well.”
“But as of right now, we are significantly reducing our spending in those three states,” Mr. Cecil said Monday on Bloomberg TV’s “With All Due Respect.”
“We’re not taking anything for granted,” Mr. Cecil said. “We know that Virginia and Colorado and Pennsylvania have been relatively close elections over the course of the last two or three cycles, but for right now, we’re going to look at other opportunities for us to expand the map and potentially to reach out to some new voters as well through voter registration and on-the-ground efforts in some of our key states.”
Mrs. Clinton is leading her GOP rival Donald Trump in head-to-head match-ups by about 9 points in Pennsylvania, by 11 points in Colorado and by 8 points in Virginia, according to the latest Real Clear Politics averages.
Mrs. Clinton also led Mr. Trump among likely voters in Virginia by 8 points, 51 percent to 43 percent, in a Washington Post poll released Tuesday. Among a broader pool of registered voters, Mrs. Clinton had a 14-point, 52 percent to 38 percent lead over Mr. Trump.
With Libertarian Party presidential nominee Gary Johnson and Green Party nominee Jill Stein added to the mix, Mrs. Clinton had a 7-point lead over Mr. Trump among likely voters and an 11-point lead among registered voters in the poll.
“I do think we have to stay focused in places like Florida and Ohio, places like New Hampshire, not only because we have the presidential race there…but also because of critical Senate [races] around the country,” Mr. Cecil said.
“Right now, our focus is on making sure Hillary Clinton not only wins, but wins in as many places and among as many people as possible,” he said. “We think that will not only benefit Hillary, but it will benefit Democrats up and down the ticket.”
Mr. Trump has essentially conceded the summer television airwaves to Mrs. Clinton and her allies, although outside groups supporting Mr. Trump have been airing ads recently.
Priorities USA has been pummeling Mr. Trump with TV ads in other battleground states like Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Iowa, Nevada and New Hampshire.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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