Young Guns shifts ads priorities

The Young Guns Action Network is realigning its advertising buys, part of what they say is a strategic shift in to have a bigger impact on the air in the weeks leading up to the election, according to a source at the group and advertising buying sources.

On Friday, the Eric Cantor-branded super PAC canceled a large set of advertising reservations in television markets in Denver; Bakersfield, California; Fresno, California; Phoenix; Tucson; Charleston, West Virginia; and Bluefield/Beckley, West Virginia. They had airtime reserved from Oct. 7 to Oct. 20.

An aide at the super PAC said they are “adjusting our previous reservations based on when and where our investments will make the biggest difference.” YG Action is in close contact with other GOP super PACs to try to align their TV strategy as Election Day draws closer.

For example, the group will now be running ads boosting Republican Evan Jenkins between Sept. 30 and Oct. 7. Jenkins is trying to unseat longtime West Virginia Democratic Rep. Nick Rahall.

In the Tucson area, where Rep. Ron Barber (D-Ariz.) is facing Martha McSally, the group will be on the air between Oct. 7 and Oct. 13.

In Arizona’s First District, the group will be on the air in the Phoenix market between Oct. 13 and Oct. 20. Republican Andy Tobin is trying to unseat Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.).

The Bakersfield buy was originally meant to boost Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), but he is in better political shape than Republicans previously expected.

For now, the group is completely dropping its buy in Denver, where Republican Rep. Mike Coffman is running against Andrew Romanoff in one of the most competitive races in the country.

The YG network, which was started by aides to Cantor (R-Va.), includes a think tank and super PAC, and has been traditionally focused on House races....