News · Press Release

Top PA-18 Stories You May Have Missed

We’re one week out from Election Day in the Special Election for Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District. A lot has happened in the lead up—here are the top stories you may have missed:

The GOP is spending heavily to avoid an embarrassing defeat in a district that voted for Trump by 20. The same district voted for Romney by 17 and has never voted for a Democrat for the House, Senate or White House. [Daily Beast] [Observer-Reporter]

KEEP IN MIND: They are spending millions of dollars for a district that will not exist in November under Pennsylvania’s new congressional lines. That would be a moral victory.

Republican operatives have already started spinning a loss. Scared by massive Democratic energy and voter’s ambiguity towards their tax plan, GOP operatives have begun throwing Saccone under the bus, blaming a potential loss on his weak candidacy. [Cook Political Report]

FLASHBACK: “We look forward to seeing how national Democrats can spin yet another special election loss into a so-called ‘moral victory.’” [NRCC Chairman Steve Stivers]

Voters could care less about Republicans’ signature “achievement.” The GOP’s ads promoting their Tax Plan are “barely moving the needle in the district’s working-class confines.” As a result, GOP groups have shifted to attacking Lamb over his prosecutorial record and sanctuary cities – right out of Ed Gillespie’s playbook. Not a single ad from GOP outside groups currently on air mentions the Tax Plan. [National Journal] [Mic] [Washington Post]

Saccone himself said the GOP Tax Plan is not a “main selling point” of his campaign. Even more remarkable is that Saccone has completely avoided discussing the Tax Plan in any of his ads. [McClatchy DC]

Lamb has built his own brand, defined by Western Pennsylvania values. Lamb has focused on local issues, built a campaign through grassroots support and retail politics, and demonstrated a strong independent streak. According to one local column, he’s turned a “‘can’t lose’ into a panicked ‘must win’ for Republicans.” [Observer-Reporter]

Lamb’s strong fundraising prowess is a major advantage. Over the first seven weeks of 2018, Lamb raised $3.2 million compared to only $700,000 for Saccone. Plus, Lamb receives a lower advertising rate than outside groups, meaning he gets more bang for his buck when compared to Republican Super PACs. [CNN] [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

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