Crossroads GPS targets NH governor in new ads

The big-spending conservative Crossroads GPS continued its broadside attacks against New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan (D) on Tuesday with a new round of digital ads targeting her fiscal record in the state.

Crossroads GPS, which is affiliated with former President George W. Bush adviser Karl Rove, announced $50,000 in digital ads that will run on Facebook, Twitter, and various search engines “highlighting Governor Hassan’s fiscally irresponsible budget” as she weights a Senate bid. 

The digital ads are specifically targeting “influencers” in the state, the group said. The digital buy builds on the $230,000 in radio ads Crossroads GPS booked last week claiming Hassan’s “tax-and-spend budget” hurts working class citizens in New Hampshire.

Hassan presents a potentially formidable challenge to Sen. Kelly Ayotte’s (R-N.H.) reelection hopes in 2016. Hassan hasn’t said yet whether she intends to run, but she’d be a top recruit for Democrats in the state.

The New Hampshire Democratic Party on Tuesday said the ads show Republicans are “terrified” of a potential Hassan candidacy.

“The latest dishonest ad from Karl Rove’s dark money group makes one thing clear: Rove and his special interest donors are terrified about Kelly Ayotte losing. And they should be,” New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley said in a statement. “Ayotte is polling significantly below 50% because she’s proven time and again that she’s more focused on raising her national profile than looking out for the people and businesses of New Hampshire.”  

An NBC-News/Marist poll from last week found Hassan leads Ayotte 48 percent to 44 percent in a hypothetical match-up.