Kingston makes $1.3M TV buy for Ga. Senate

Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) is using his fundraising advantage to make a big investment in television ads, reserving almost $1.3 million in airtime for the two-month span before the June 3 primary.

Kingston has been fundraising at a strong pace, raising $880,000 in the last fundraising quarter and sitting on $3.4 million in the bank. He’s using some of that investment to lock in cheaper early television rates in the state.

“The generosity and support of our donors allows us to lock in rates now before they become more expensive,” Kingston Campaign Manager Chris Crawford told The Hill in an email.

“This purchase leverages our resources to save the campaign dollars down the road. It ensures Jack is able to efficiently communicate his vision directly to voters.”

{mosads}The move will help Kingston’s dollars go further, as ad rates tend to skyrocket as election dates get closer and more candidates vie for the slots.

The investment is largely focused on the Atlanta media market, which covers the most voters in the state. The metro area is by far the most expensive to buy in Georgia and is outside the area where Kingston is well-known, coastal Savannah. He’s also reserved airtime on Fox News, Republicans’ favorite news channel.

Kingston, the favorite of some business and establishment Republicans, is facing off against a crowded primary field that includes Reps. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) and Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.), former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel (R), and self-funding businessman David Perdue (R). The winner will face former charity CEO Michelle Nunn (D), a candidate Democrats are very excited about.