National Republican group buying television ad time in Iowa congressional races

DAVENPORT - The political arm for House Republicans is making a play for Iowa's 1st and 2nd congressional district seats.

The National Republican Congressional Committee said Monday that it's buying $1.3 million in television ad time in the two districts, with spots to begin airing on Friday.

The purchase, the first for the NRCC in both districts this campaign cycle, is a sign they think they can win both races, officials say.

Tyler Houlton, an NRCC spokesman, said more than $900,000 is being spent in the 2nd District, with purchases in the Cedar Rapids and Davenport markets. Another $400,000 is going into Cedar Rapids to try to have an impact in the 1st District race.

U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, a four-term Democratic incumbent, is defending his 2nd District seat against Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks, while former House Speaker Pat Murphy, a Dubuque Democrat, is running against Republican Rod Blum, a businessman from Dubuque, in the 1st District.

'We feel like both Dr. Miller-Meeks and Rod Blum have a great shot at winning these races,” Houlton said.

Last week, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee put $105,000 into TV ad time in the 1st District race, according to Federal Election Commission filings. It also joined with Loebsack to air a television commercial targeting Miller-Meeks.