Senate Dem PAC cancels more Ohio ads

The Senate Majority PAC is canceling about $3 million in TV advertising in Ohio scheduled for three critical weeks in late September and early October, a further sign that Democrats are losing hope in knocking off Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio).

{mosads}The PAC, run by strategists close to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), is in the process of pulling back reservations set to run between Sept. 20 and Oct. 10 in Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo.

Senate Majority PAC still has reservations in Ohio set for Oct. 11 through Election Day.

“As we’ve said previously, we regularly adjust our spending to maximize resources and make sure we’re in the best possible position to win this November,” said Shripal Shah, the group’s spokesman.

The political action committee, along with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, had previously canceled several weeks of advertising meant to bolster Portman’s Democratic challenger, former Gov. Ted Strickland. While Strickland and Portman were running neck and neck earlier in the year, Portman has since opened up a clear lead.

Democrats, Republicans and their allied outside groups have spent more trying to win over Ohio voters than in any other Senate contest this year. Data collected by the Wesleyan Media Project shows the two sides had spent a collective $35 million on television advertising through August.