By TODD STACY, Alabama Daily News
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Katie Britt and political groups supporting her candidacy for U.S. Senate have launched a series of new television advertising in recent days. The February ad barrage marks a turning point in the Senate race as the “air war” phase starts with 91 days to go until the May 24 primary election.
Up until mid-February, Mike Durant was the only Senate candidate with a major advertising presence. The Army veteran of “Black Hawk Down” fame spent more than $1.3 million in television and radio advertising in the 4th quarter of 2021 alone. That helped slingshot Durant into the thick of the race, with recent surveys showing him polling closely with Britt and frontrunner Congressman Mo Brooks.
Britt’s ad campaign began on Feb. 10 with a spot touting her pro-life stance, followed by one on Feb. 17 attacking liberal education and public health policies from Washington. Finally, the campaign released a softer, gentler video on digital platforms celebrating Alabama’s natural resources.
The Britt campaign tells Alabama Daily News that it has spent more than $130,000 so far on the ad blitz and will spend $500,000 total for the month of February. The campaign’s advertising is targeting the Birmingham broadcast market along with the statewide cable market.
See the ads below.
The campaign efforts are supplanted by uncoordinated, but supportive advertising from outside super PACs, which have spent an estimated $500,000 this month in support of Britt. Alabama Conservatives Fund is the primary super PAC supporting Britt.
Durrant and Brooks also have super PACs and other outside groups supporting them. Alabama Patriots PAC spent about $800,000 last year supporting Durant and made another $250,860 media placement last week, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Brooks is supported by Club for Growth Action, which made a $441,580 media buy last week. A super PAC called the School Freedom Fund last week made a $664,449 ad buy in support of Brooks.
The race is also starting to see negative advertising from outside groups. Alabama’s Future PAC last week made a $425,935 media placement for ads targeting Brooks. Club for Growth last fall ran a one-day TV ad attacking Britt.