This is where all that money goes...

Ads push Manchin and Heitkamp to vote for Kavanaugh

By BURGESS EVERETT

The conservative Judicial Crisis Network is pressuring at-risk Democrats Joe Manchin and Heidi Heitkamp to confirm Brett kavanaugh in a new ad buy, making one final push on behalf of the Supreme Court nominee.

The group will spend $400,000 this week on pushing Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Heitkamp (D-N.D.) to support President Donald Trump's high court pick, following his hearing on an alleged sexual assault. The two moderate senators are the only undecided Democrats, and both are up for reelection next month. Kavanaugh remains short of 50 votes.

The new ads use footage of Kavanaugh calling the confirmation process "search and destroy" at his confirmation hearing. A narrator says voters will "never forget" how Heitkamp and Manchin vote and accuses liberals of trying to "ruin a good man with smears."

"Judge Kavanaugh fought back, clearing his name, defending his honor. Now Sen. Heitkamp has a choice: Stand with President Trump, Judge Kavanaugh, and all who thought this was a national disgrace. Or stand with them," a narrator says in the North Dakota version, flashing pictures of prominent Democratic senators like Dick Durbin of Illinois, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kamala Harris of California and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii.

Recent polls released by the Judicial Crisis Network have shown majorities of voters in both North Dakota and West Virginia still want Kavanaugh confirmed despite the sexual misconduct allegations facing him.

Carrie Severino, the Judicial Crisis Network's chief counsel, said the two senators "need to decide whether they stand with Judge Kavanaugh and President Trump, or with the outrageous smear campaign unleashed by Chuck Schumer and the liberal mob."

Though the ACLU announced a $1 million buy pressuring Manchin and five GOP senators to oppose Kavanaugh on Monday, JCN has been the biggest spender in the Supreme Court ad wars. The group has spent about $12 million thus far to confirm Kavanaugh, and also spent millions on Justice Neil Gorsuch. Heitkamp and Manchin both supported Gorsuch.