Pence-linked group launches $800K ad campaign in West Virginia praising Manchin

A conservative group run by Marc Short, who served as former Vice President Mike Pence’s chief of staff, is set to launch an ad campaign to encourage Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) to oppose the $1.7 trillion social spending and climate package in an attempt to stop it from being passed.

The Coalition to Protect American Workers is set to launch an ad campaign worth nearly $800,000 this week in West Virginia. According to NBC News, the ads will air over two weeks and will reiterate issues that Manchin has raised about the social spending package in the past.

“Families are worried yet Biden picks right now to try and raise taxes on hard-working West Virginia families while giving huge tax cuts to millionaires,” one of the ads state. “Fortunately Joe Manchin’s got our backs. He understands the importance of putting West Virginia people ahead of Washington politics. Tell Manchin keep fighting for us.”

The House passed the Build Back Better Act earlier in November after months of negotiations between progressive and centrist Democratic lawmakers. 

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said this week that he is aiming to bring the social spending package up for a vote before Christmas. Sources close to the matter told The Hill on Tuesday that Schumer is planning on bringing the bill up for a vote as soon as Dec. 13.

Manchin made his opposition to higher spending well known throughout the negotiations, at one point saying he would not support any bill costing more than $1.5 trillion. The package was scaled back from $3.5 trillion in part because of his objections.

Last month, Manchin reportedly told Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) during a heated argument over the bill that he was willing to let go of all of President Biden’s social spending goals.

Regarding the ad campaign targeting Manchin, Short told NBC News in a statement, “President Biden’s policies are far beyond the mainstream and Sen. Manchin is holding the line,” adding that Manchin “deserves thanks for representing the interests of West Virginia families by slowing reckless spending and massive tax increases.”

Schumer will need total unity in his caucus in order to begin debate on the bill. Neither Manchin nor fellow centrist Democrat Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) have said whether or not they will vote to start debate.