GOP Super PAC Continues Attacks on Maine’s Jared Golden

A Republican super PAC tied to House leadership is launching its fourth ad against Maine Democrat Jared Golden on Friday. The fight to hold on to the 2nd District, where GOP Rep. Bruce Poliquin is running for a third term, is a top priority for Republicans. Congressional Leadership Fund has now reserved $3.1 million for the seat, among the most it’s reserved in competitive districts around the country.  In its latest spot, obtained first by Roll Call, CLF attacks the Marine veteran and state House assistant majority leader for voting for what it calls “wasteful handouts.” The ad is running in the Bangor and Presque Isle television markets and across the state on digital platforms.  “Golden voted repeatedly to raise taxes. And voted to let welfare recipients use your tax dollars to buy tattoos, tobacco, alcohol — even lottery tickets,” the narrator continues. The ad then attacks Golden for his opposition to the Republican tax overhaul. “Wasteful handouts for them. Higher taxes for us,” the narrator says. This refrain has been a familiar narrative in the super PAC’s three previous ads targeting the Democratic nominee. CLF’s second ad against Golden prominently showed his tattoos and ended with an illustration that tattooed those attacks, along with an image of Golden’s face, on a man’s back. CLF’s first ad against Golden, which was all about taxes, launched in mid-August.  Golden’s latest ad, which debuted during Sunday’s Patriots game and features him target shooting, touts his service in the Marines and experience as an aide to Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins.  “While Bruce Poliquin hides from his votes to gut Social Security and Medicare, I’m a straight shooter,” he says. Poliquin’s latest ad starts as a biographical spot that ends with the narrator praising the congressman for “always protecting Social Security and Medicare.” Democrats held this northern Maine district for 20 years before Poliquin flipped the open seat in 2014. Despite heavy spending against him, the Republican won a rematch against Democrat Emily Cain by an even bigger margin in 2016, when President Donald Trump picked off an electoral vote from the district.  In the Democrat’s first poll of the general election, released in early August, Poliquin led Golden by 1 point, within the margin of error. A simulation of the state’s ranked-choice voting system, which is being used for the first time this year, showed Golden picking up votes.   Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race Leans Republican.  Watch: House Ratings Change in Favor of Democrats Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone or your Android.