Dem groups tie vulnerable down-ballot Republicans to Trump ahead of debate

A Democratic opposition research group and an environmental group are teaming up to launch new digital ads linking vulnerable Republicans in competitive Senate races to GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump ahead of Sunday’s presidential debate.

{mosads}American Bridge and the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Victory Fund will be releasing four new videos, shared first with The Hill, that play footage of GOP strategists criticizing Trump’s performance after the first debate. They will also play a clip of him denying past remarks he’s made.

The ads, which will run before Sunday’s second presidential debate of 2016 and into next week, specifically target Sens. Richard Burr (N.C.), Pat Toomey (Pa.) and Ron Johnson (Wis.), as well as Senate hopeful Rep. Joe Heck (R-Nev.). The ads will question their judgment for backing Trump, particularly after the first debate. While Toomey has previously said he’ll back Trump, the GOP senator has recently declined to say whether he will support him.

“No amount of debate prep can help Donald Trump. With his toddler-level temperament on full display, it’s clear he’s unfit to be Commander in Chief,” American Bridge President Jessica Mackler said. “Trump continues to make a fool of his party, raising levels of racism and sexism in American presidential politics more fit for the 1950s than the 21st century.

“Yet, Washington Republicans are ready to hand over the keys, giving their stamp of approval to his erratic behavior and dangerous foreign and economic agenda. Americans should reconsider whether the GOP can be trusted in the U.S. Senate.”

The ads come as vulnerable Republicans try to figure out how to distance themselves from the controversial businessman.

Earlier this week, vulnerable Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) stumbled on a debate answer when she called Trump a role model for children. Hours after the debate, her campaign issued a statement that she “misspoke” and said that both Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton aren’t role models.

Democrats quickly seized on her comments, and the campaign of her Democratic opponent, New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan, has used Ayotte’s words against her in ads. Ayotte’s campaign has also released an ad saying that she’s “not perfect” and neither are Trump and Clinton.

The question has been asked of other vulnerable Republicans, and Toomey told reporters this week that he doesn’t believe Trump is a role model.