WILMINGTON — Spending by outside political action committees in the hotly-contested race for the U.S. House seat in North Carolina’s 7th Congressional District is approaching $400,000.
According to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Political Action Committees (PACS) have spent more than $388,017 in opposition ads and research in the 7th District race as of August 24.
The targets are longtime incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre, a Lumberton Democrat, and state Sen. David Rouzer, a Republican challenger from Johnston County hoping to unseat the eight-term congressman.
Republicans are outspending Democrats in the district, which has been a GOP target for the past two elections. The most recent GOP expenditure was a $121,192 media buy August 24.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, opposing Rouzer’s bid, spent nearly $100,000 in media buys and another $6,943 in media production in August.
Meanwhile, the National Republican Congressional Committee has set its sights on McIntyre, spending $38,416 in survey research and nearly $250,000 in media buys during the same time frame in August.
The $388,017 thrown into the race is in addition to the funds raised by both candidates.
While the Republicans are outspending the Democrats on the party front, McIntyre still enjoys a sizable lead over Rouzer in campaign fundraising.
As of June 30, McIntyre had raised $1.4 million, and had a little more than $1 million cash on hand. Rouzer had raised $695,352, and had $171,608 cash on hand as of June 30.
