In a sign that Democrats are broadening their 2020 messaging, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on Thursday is rolling out digital ads attacking House Republicans over President Donald Trump’s trade policies.
The ads, obtained first by CQ Roll Call, are timed to back-to-school shopping. The animated ads running on Facebook highlight products whose rising costs could affect consumers in 11 districts across the country, all but one of which Trump carried in 2016.
“It’s outrageous: Prices on fall favorites like sneakers, sweaters and laptops could all go up — thanks to Rep. Perry’s support for Donald Trump’s trade war,” reads the text accompanying one of the ads attacking Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry.
So far this cycle, Democrats have largely stuck to the messages that worked for them in 2018 — health care, the rising cost of prescription drugs and money in politics. Paid communications from the DCCC to this point have mostly attacked Republicans on health care and praised Democrats for supporting the House’s political money, ethics and voting overhaul known as HR 1.
Besides Perry, these new DCCC ads target 10 other House GOP lawmakers, including Arizona’s David Schweikert, Minnesota’s Jim Hagedorn, North Carolina’s George Holding, Nebraska’s Don Bacon, New York’s Peter T. King, Pennsylvania’s Brian Fitzpatrick, Texas’ Michael McCaul, Chip Roy and John Carter, and Washington’s Jaime Herrera Beutler.
“As kids head back to school in communities across the country, their families are paying more for everything, from new shoes to the laptop they’ll do their homework on,” DCCC spokesman Cole Leiter said in a statement.
“These ads will remind voters that it’s Washington Republicans who are playing games with our economy, while their recklessness costs hardworking families more.”
