Conservative group pulls ads targeting Rahall on carbon tax

The American Energy Alliance is pulling ads against Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) as residents in West Virginia deal with last week’s chemical spill.

The conservative group first aired an ad that painted Rahall as a carbon tax supporter in December. Last week, the group started a three-week stint of radio and TV ads blasting Rahall for “hurting his constituents in coal country.”

{mosads}But the group announced its plan to cancel the ads until a later date on Monday.

“Given the more pressing concern facing West Virginians as a result of the recent chemical spill in the Elk River, the American Energy Alliance is pulling our three week initiative to promote accountability for Rep. Nick Rahall over his vote to support a carbon tax,” Tom Pyle, president of the alliance, said in a statement Monday.

“While we remain staunchly opposed to a carbon tax and committed to holding public officials accountable, now is not the time for this advertisement.”

“Our efforts in the next several weeks in West Virginia are more rightly directed at helping families in the affected region,” Pyle added.