GOP ad buyer mixes up his Portlands and spends big for Maine Sen. Susan Collins. In Oregon.
A Republican group’s attempt to boost Maine Sen. Susan Collins landed thousands of miles off target when its advertisement ran in Portland, Oregon — not Portland, Maine.
The ad, created by Defending Main Street SuperPAC Inc., targets Collins’ opponent, Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson, MS NOW reported. Titled “So Many Taxes,” the ad zeroes in on Jackson’s tax policy record, accusing him of increasing costs for Maine residents.
As much as $25,000 was spent to run the spot in and around Portland, Oregon.
A representative for Cross Screen Media, the ad buyer, told NBC News that the mistake was “100 percent” their own, and that the money had been refunded. The representative noted that the company deals with thousands of political campaigns.
Sarah Chamberlain, the CEO of the Republican Main Street Partnership, which is linked to Defending Main Street SuperPAC Inc., said the ad was taken off the airwaves after the “ridiculous” mistake was uncovered.
“The buyers made a mistake on one of the placements. It’s down now, and they’re running it in Portland, Maine,” she told NBC News. “It has nothing to do with us. I would never run an ad in Portland, Oregon, for Susan Collins, for Christ’s sake.”
Some social media users poked fun at the error.
“I’ve gotten 5 anti-Troy Jackson ads in the last 24 hours,” Oregon resident Lillian Belle wrote on X on Sunday. “I choose to believe they mixed up Portlands.”
“Say what you will, but I guarantee that the GOP’s ad campaign will be wildly effective,” another X user added. “Not one voter in Portland, Oregon is going to vote for Jackson.”
Polls show Collins and Jackson locked in a tight race just weeks before Election Day.
