American Crossroads Launches $7 Million Ad Drive for GOP Senate Candidates

American Crossroads, the super PAC co-founded by star GOP strategist Karl Rove, is hitting the airwaves with $7.2 million of TV ads to boost Republican Senate candidates in five competitive races, strategists told Politico.

The ads will air in Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Virginia. They start Wednesday and are scheduled to run through Aug. 21. Many Republicans see the five seats – four now occupied by Democrats – as the most important to win for the party to regain control of the Senate.

The Hill classifies all five races as toss-ups. Republicans need a net pickup of four seats to form a majority in the chamber.

The Republican candidates in the races include former Sen. George Allen of Virginia, Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada, Rep. Denny Rehberg of Montana, Rep. Rick Berg of North Dakota, and Missouri primary contestants John Brunner, a businessman; Rep. Todd Akin; and former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman.

Naturally, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee sought to discredit the ad initiative.

"The news of Rove’s ad campaign comes a month after the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission against Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies and other shadowy, right-wing interest groups that are spending millions this year to engage in blatant political activity," said DSCC communications director Matt Canter

"Karl Rove is spending millions propping up George Allen, Dean Heller, Denny Rehberg, Rick Berg, John Brunner, Sarah Steelman, and Todd Akin because he knows that these Republicans will be a rubber stamp for the special interests that are lining Rove’s pockets.”

This criticism ignores the fact that Rove has no formal role with the group.