Koch group launches fourth ad buy against Toomey’s Dem rival

A top Koch network group launched a new TV ad on Wednesday, accusing Democratic Senate candidate Katie McGinty of putting special interests before Pennsylvanians. 

Freedom Partners Action Fund, a super-PAC that spearheads the conservative donor network helmed by billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch, announced a $1 million ad buy targeting McGinty, who is trying to unseat Sen. Pat Toomey. 

{mosads}The 30-second spot, which will run for two weeks, claims that during the time McGinty was a state official, she “awarded millions of tax dollars to favored groups and companies.” These groups include one that benefitted her husband and another company where she eventually worked and earned a six-figure salary.

“Katie McGinty used her public position to get ahead while Pennsylvanians were left behind,” said spokesman Bill Riggs. “Pennsylvania deserves a senator who will take on the culture of corporate welfare in Washington — not someone who will take advantage of it.” 

This is the fourth ad that Freedom Partners has run against McGinty that accuses her of “leveraging her public position for personal gain.” The group has spent nearly $7 million on Pennsylvania’s Senate race. 

McGinty’s campaign has pushed back on previous ad campaigns from Freedom Partners and has blamed Toomey and the Koch brothers for job losses in the Keystone State. 

“It’s low of anyone to castigate Katie McGinty’s distinguished career as a public servant and private sector leader,” Preston Maddock, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, said about Wednesday’s ad. “Not only have these recycled attacks been repeatedly debunked — called ‘distorted’ and ‘misleading’ by fact checkers — but Senator Toomey and the Koch brothers have no moral authority here.”

The former gubernatorial chief of staff faces a tough battle against Toomey in a state that was carried by President Obama in 2008 and 2012. 

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She’s been leading in polls since mid-July, though the GOP senator was up 7 points in a survey from earlier this week. He also has a significant cash advantage over McGinty. 

Pennsylvania’s seat will likely be pivotal in determining which party controls the Senate majority next year. Democrats need to net five seats — or four and retain the White House. They need to defend 10 seats, while Republicans must defend 24.