Red State RoundupThree dark horses in the race for the GOP presidential nomination boosted their ad spending last week in a last-ditch effort to help them qualify for the second Republican presidential debate next week.
Conservative radio host Larry Elder, businessman Perry Johnson, and Pastor Ryan Binkley have all spent at least $100,000 on ads that aired last week, according to NBC News. None of the trio qualified for the first debate.
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“The RNC is scared because they know I will talk about difficult issues: The epidemic of fatherlessness, my proposal to fire George Soros-backed [district attorneys], and the lie that America is systemically racist. To make the debate stage in September, I need your help,” Elder said in an ad that aired last week.
Elder spent $163,000 in ads from Sept. 11 through Sept. 17, with ads airing in Miami, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Philadelphia. Johnson spent $458,000 in ads during the same period, which increased his spending by four times and made him the second-largest ad spender among GOP candidates. Sen. Tim Scott (R‑SC) has spent the most on ads. Binkley spent the second highest of the trio, with $202,000 spent on ads last week.
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Both Johnson and Binkley had spent their funds on national ad campaigns in hopes of putting their national polling numbers over the criteria for the debate. Candidates need to secure 3% …