Four months from Election Day, outside liberal and conservative groups have already spent about $3.3 million in ads blasting U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall and his Republican opponent Evan Jenkins.
The conservative Americans for Prosperity and American Energy Alliance have shoveled about $2 million combined into ads. Rahall's critics think the 19-term Democrat is beatable because of President Barack Obama's unpopularity in West Virginia.
Democrats are defending Rahall's seat through the House Majority PAC, which has spent $1.1 million on ads against Jenkins. The state senator changed from Democrat to Republican to face Rahall.
Conservative groups are trying to tie Rahall to Obama, particularly on plans to limit carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants. Rahall opposes the plan, which many West Virginians believe would devastate the state's signature coal industry.
Ads defending Rahall have focused on Jenkins' support from millionaire conservative donors Charles and David Koch, and have emphasized the brothers' business ties to Freedom Industries, the site of the January 2014 chemical spill.
The most recent polling gives Rahall a slight edge, but shows the race closer than Rahall's past contests for re-election.
Democrats are defending Rahall's seat through the House Majority PAC, which has spent $1.1 million on ads against Jenkins. The state senator changed from Democrat to Republican to face Rahall.
Conservative groups are trying to tie Rahall to Obama, particularly on plans to limit carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants. Rahall opposes the plan, which many West Virginians believe would devastate the state's signature coal industry.
Ads defending Rahall have focused on Jenkins' support from millionaire conservative donors Charles and David Koch, and have emphasized the brothers' business ties to Freedom Industries, the site of the January 2014 chemical spill.
The most recent polling gives Rahall a slight edge, but shows the race closer than Rahall's past contests for re-election.
