The House Democrat campaign arm is reportedly not sending resources to New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District, ultimately leaving Rep. Tom Malinowski (D) to fend off his Republican challenger on his own.
New Jersey Globe confirmed Monday that with only two weeks before the election, the Democrat Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) did not reserve any television time for ads to help the party loyalist. The DCCC has spent relatively little money on Malinowski’s reelection bid.
The two-term congressman is running against Republican Thomas Kean, Jr.
Following the redistricting process, the congressional district shifted slightly more Republican, according to analyses: FiveThirtyEight’s election model favors Kean to win 71 out of 100 times, Cook Political Report rates the congressional district as leaning Republican, and Inside Elections recently moved their prediction to tilt Republican.
When the DCCC does not reserve any television in the final weeks of an election or pulls its money out, it usually means the member could win alone, which is rare, or that the member’s fate is sealed and the funds would be more useful somewhere else.
The most recent internal polling suggests that the two candidates are tied at 48 percent, while an outside poll from RMG Research shows Malinowski with only 38 percent and Kean with 46 percent.
Despite all of the forecasting, DCCC spokesman James Singer pushed back on the Globe‘s contention that the committee totally abandoned the lawmakers.
“The DCCC is committed to re-electing Congressman Malinowski, who has run a strong campaign that has him neck and neck with two weeks to go,” Singer told the Globe. “The DCCC has an office in this district and has made significant investments in field and communications to support Rep. Malinowski’s efforts.”
The House Majority PAC, the main super PAC for the House Democrats, had spent $1.25 million on the race to help Malinowski, which included $183,000 this week and $160,000 for next week.
However, the Republicans looking to flip the congressional district red are spending heavily. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), the DCCC’s Republican counterpart, has put $1.28 million in the race for television. Similarly, the Congressional Leadership Fund, House Majority PAC’s Republican counterpart, is spending $3.8 million.
Jacob Bliss is a reporter for Breitbart News. Write to him at jbliss@breitbart.com or follow him on Twitter @JacobMBliss.
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