Major progressive group launches bilingual ads in NC Senate race

Democracy for America (DFA) on Thursday launched bilingual ads praising Democratic Senate candidate Deborah Ross for standing up to Donald Trump and his rhetoric toward Latinos.

{mosads}DFA’s English- and Spanish-language ads aim to give Ross a boost as she seeks to unseat Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.).

The major progressive group endorsed Ross in March, and the new ads, which are running on TV, radio and online, are part of a $200,000 ad buy.

They highlight the GOP presidential nominee calling Mexicans “rapists” and other types of “criminals,” and tout Ross’s support for comprehensive immigration reform. DFA will also make bilingual calls to all Latino voters who have voted in any of the past three elections.

“Democracy for America believes that our country’s progressive values win when the voices of Black and Brown voters are heard loudly and clearly at the ballot box,” DFA spokesman Neil Sroka said in a statement.

“We’re investing in this early, tightly-targeted campaign to make sure all North Carolina voters know that a vote for Deborah Ross for U.S. Senate is another vitally important way to beat Donald Trump’s bigoted agenda in November.”

The race between Ross and Burr has been elevated as the presidential nominees shift their attention and resources to North Carolina. Democrats feel optimistic that they can win the battleground state, which President Obama narrowly carried in 2008 before losing it to Mitt Romney in 2012.

Burr leads Ross by less than 3 points in the RealClearPolitics polling average. The GOP senator supports Trump and appeared with him at a campaign rally in the state.

A North Carolina poll released Thursday found Trump leading Democratic rival Hillary Clinton by 3 points and Burr ahead in the Senate race by 4 points.