DCCC reserves $32 million in airtime in unprecedented early buy

By Josh Lederman - 04/18/12 01:04 PM ET

House Democrats are reserving almost $32.5 million in broadcast television airtime for the fall, a show of strength that also offers a detailed look at what Democrats see as their path back to the majority.

It's the earliest the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has ever placed such a buy, which reserves the airtime while prices are less expensive and leaves the committee with the flexibility to decide later how to divide up the time.

"By placing early, the DCCC is saving a significant amount of money and ensuring the ads have good placement," a DCCC official said.

In all, the committee has purchased time in the media markets covering 26 incumbent Republicans, seven incumbent Democrats and three open seats.

In Pennsylvania, the DCCC has reserved more than $3.5 million in Philadelphia, allowing them to potentially target Republican Reps. Patrick Meehan (Pa.), Jim Gerlach (Pa.), Charlie Dent (Pa.), Michael Fitzpatrick (Pa.) and Jon Runyan, whose New Jersey district uses the Philadelphia media market.

The committee reserved $3 million in Minneapolis, where Democrats could shore up Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) or attack Reps. John Kline (R-Minn.), Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) or Chip Cravaack (R-Minn.).

The rest of the list of potential targets reads like a who's who of Republicans that Democrats have made clear they hope to knock off in November: Florida Reps. Vern Buchanan, Steve Southerland, David Rivera and Allen West; Iowa Reps. Steve King and Tom Latham; and Colorado Reps. Mike Coffman and Scott Tipton.

Democrats also could use the airtime to defend their own vulnerable incumbents, including North Carolina Reps. Mike McIntyre and Larry Kissell.

"House Democrats are beginning the 2012 election season on defense," said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Paul Lindsay. "Why? Because many of their members are in strong Republican seats where they will be forced to defend their party’s singular focus on ObamaCare while America’s economy has gone from bad to worse."

In previous cycles, the DCCC's earliest buys were in May or June, according to the group.

By purchasing the airtime in "combo" blocks market by market — rather than race by race — the DCCC can leave Republicans guessing about who they will target and how much they will spend on each ad up until the ads are ready to air, an official said.

The DCCC's independent expenditure arm cannot coordinate directly with Democratic candidates.

- This post was updated at 3:27 p.m.