WASHINGTON — It stopped writing checks but the National Republican Campaign Committee hasn’t written off Keith Rothfus.
NRCC chairman and U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers cautioned against reading too much into his group’s decision to pull advertising from the Pittsburgh congressional race that, because of redistricting, pits two incumbents against each other.
In a tweet Friday, Medium Buying, which tracks political advertising, noted the move by NRCC’s independent expenditure unit.
NRCC IE has canceled the remaining spending they had in place in the Pittsburgh DMA (was booked for 10/8-11/6)#Done https://t.co/I16V42tMh6
— Medium Buying (@MediumBuying) September 21, 2018
“Money moves around. The president’s Super PAC came in, and we moved money other places,” Mr. Stivers, R-Ohio, said Tuesday during a reporters’ roundtable on Capitol Hill.
He was referring to America First Action, a Trump-aligned political action committee that supports candidates who back the president’s agenda.
America First Action has prioritized Mr. Rothfus’ race against Democrat Conor Lamb in Pennsylvania’s 17th District, according to the latest Federal Election Commission reports. It has spent $1.1 million on the race, more than on any other.
Still, NRCC had spent twice that before it pulled funding.
“I wouldn’t read into it,” Mr. Stivers said Tuesday. “I expect us to come back in there if we need to. It depends how much America First spends.”
The super PAC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mr. Stivers said Mr. Rothfus is in a tough race, but a winnable one.
“It’s dynamic, but I feel like Keith is going to win that race,” Mr. Stivers said. “All the momentum has been for Keith.”
Polls and political prognosticators say otherwise. The Cook Political Report, Monmouth University Polling Institute, and others give Mr. Lamb an edge.
Mr. Lamb also leads in direct fundraising, according to the latest FEC reports. He raised $7.3 million to Mr. Rothfus’ $2 million as of June 30. He also spent more — $5.2 million to Mr. Rothfus’ $574,000.
Washington Bureau Chief Tracie Mauriello: tmauriello@post-gazette.com or on Twitter @pgPoliTweets.
First Published: September 25, 2018, 9:42 p.m.
