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The races for two of Southern Arizona congressional districts are in full swing. But many of the TV ads were not paid by any of the candidates' campaigns. They were funded by outside groups.
In the case of Congressional District 1's Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick v. Andy Tobin and Congressional District's 2 Rep. Ron Barber v. Martha McSally, the ads were paid by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee.
U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick.
Andy Tobin.
But why are they so interested in Southern Arizona?
"Arizona has more competitive races than anywhere else in the country," said Daniel Scarpinato national press secretary with the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Southern Arizona is the only place where the NRCC is running two different ads for two different candidates, Scarpinato said. He also said Republicans are ready to spend plenty of money on the CD1 and CD2 races.
"It really changes day to day but we have already made a significant investment here and reserved more than $2 million in television time," he said. "So I think you have already seen a major commitment to Arizona and you are going to continue to see that."
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is also spending heavily in the districts. Two new ads, one against Martha McSally in CD2 and one against Andy Tobin in CD1, debuted this week. More than $2 million is earmarked in support of CD1's Kirkpatrick, and nearly $1 million is put aside for CD2's Barber.
Emily Bittner with the DCCC said TV buys are important.
"One of the things I love the most about Arizona voters is you really do have to earn their vote. They want to know who you are, how you are fighting for them. It is not a party line kinda thing," she said.
For the candidates in the race, the GOP and Democratic National Committees are the "known enemies." Their spending and donors are all public record. Other groups that don't have to report their donors are often referred to as having dark money. Candidates such as Barber are not fans of the unknown cash.
U.S. Rep. Ron Barber.
U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz.
"Dark money is a terrible thing and I believe the Supreme Court made a terrible mistake when it allowed the wealthiest in our country, who don’t even live in the states or districts, they are trying to capture...to pour money in to steal seats away from people in this community," he said.
Barber's Republican opponent McSally said when it comes to countering the outside money, she wants voters to do some fact checking.
"Don’t believe the attack ads, take a look at me for who I am, what I’ve done with my life, the kind of decisions I’ve made," she said.
National pollsters rate the CD2 race as a toss up. Registration in the district is nearly evenly split among Republicans, Democrats and independents.
Though Republicans have a slight numeric advantage, CD1 is also seen as very tight with similar registration, though polls have it leaning toward Kirkpatrick by the slightest of margins for now.
The general election is Nov. 4.
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