Club for Growth to spend $5 million in ads for Trump Supreme Court nominee

Conservative group Club for Growth is reportedly planning to spend $5 million in ads backing President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last week. 

The group’s ads will back whomever Trump announces as his nominee, and will air as digital and TV ads nationally as well as in specific states with competitive Senate races, Politico reported Wednesday. 

Club for Growth President David McIntosh told Politico the $5 million buy exceeded the group’s typical issue-oriented ad spending by three to four times. 

“We have already started engaging grassroots conservatives to call for a vote before the election, and we are delighted by the progress,” McIntosh told the outlet. 

Club for Growth’s ad plan comes amid a heated debate largely along party lines over voting on Trump’s nominee this close to an election. Democrats are calling Republicans hypocrites for pushing for a quick vote on Trump’s nominee less than two months ahead of Election Day, despite Republican senators blocking former President Obama’s nominee to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia who died about 10 months ahead of the 2016 election. 

Some Club for Growth ads will air in competitive Senate races, including Alabama and Montana, with the goal of targeting Democrats in opposition to the pick, as well as ensuring that key GOP senators remain supportive of Trump’s nominee throughout the confirmation process, Politico reported. 

The Supreme Court vacancy is shaping up to be a key issue in the last weeks ahead of Election Day, with groups on both sides of the aisle preparing ad campaigns over the upcoming nomination battle. 

Progressive group Demand Justice said last week it is planning to spend $10 million on an ad campaign aimed at preventing Ginsburg’s seat from being filled until after the presidential inauguration in January. The most prolific online fundraising platform for Democrats, ActBlue, also said it broke records raising more than $91 million in the 28 hours after Ginsburg’s death was announced.  

Trump said he expects to announce his nominee at the end of this week. 

Just two Republicans, Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine), have joined Democrats in saying they do not support moving a nomination before Election Day. 

A Club for Growth spokesperson was not immediately available when contacted by The Hill.