Mysterious group targeting Gov. Greg Abbott reserves $6 million in TV ads ahead of November election

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A shadowy new group has bought at the very least $6 million in TV advertisements forward of the November election and is airing an advert that targets Gov. Greg Abbott as he runs for reelection.

The minute-long ad from Coulda Been Worse LLC, which began airing Friday, rattles off an inventory of main calamitous occasions which have occurred on Abbott’s watch, just like the Uvalde college taking pictures and 2021 power-grid collapse. Because the narrator speaks, an image slowly zooms out to indicate Abbott’s face.

“Any considered one of these — a horrible disgrace for Texas,” the narrator says on the finish. “All of those — a horrific signal one thing large is very, terribly flawed.”

The spot ends with a clip of Abbott saying after the Uvalde bloodbath that it “may have been worse,” more and more a rallying cry of Abbott’s critics. Abbott made the remark whereas praising the regulation enforcement response to the taking pictures, which has since been been extensively criticized for taking nicely over an hour to confront the shooter. Abbott later stated he was “misled” when he made the remark.

The promoting represents a big escalation as Abbott fights for a 3rd time period in opposition to Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke. Abbott has led O’Rourke by mid-single digits in polls all through the summer time.

Abbott has additionally outpaced O’Rourke on the airwaves. Abbott has been airing TV advertisements for over three weeks, whereas O’Rourke didn’t begin his first sustained statewide TV purchase till Friday.

The information of Coulda Been Worse LLC’s plans obtained out Thursday when AdImpact, a media-tracking agency, tweeted that the group was scooping up airtime statewide. It finally reserved $6.1 million on broadcast and cable TV from Friday by way of Oct. 9, in keeping with AdImpact.

The title — Coulda Been Worse — signaled that it will be an anti-Abbott effort, however in any other case, few particulars had been recognized about it — which remained the case Friday.

A gaggle by the identical title was registered as an LLC late final month in Delaware, in keeping with information there. Its registered agent is Company Service Firm in Wilmington.

As an LLC, the group wouldn’t must disclose its donors as political motion committees often must do in state races. It’s uncommon however not exceptional — U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo and different Democratic incumbents elsewhere have benefited from TV advertisements by an LLC, Higher Jobs Collectively.

In promoting orders filed with the Federal Communications Fee, Coulda Been Worse LLC lists an Arlington, Virginia, handle. It identifies Michael Waters as its govt director and Connecticut-based Icon Worldwide as its media purchaser. Nether responded to messages in search of extra info Thursday.

Abbott’s marketing campaign rapidly raised questions in regards to the group.

“How soiled can Beto’s rip-off darkish cash teams be if they will not give on to him?” Abbott strategist Dave Carney tweeted. “Will not shield him for accountability.”

Requested in regards to the group after a marketing campaign cease Thursday in Lockhart, O’Rourke stated he didn’t “know who that is.” He stated the group, in addition to any others prefer it, ought to disclose their donors even when they aren’t required to by regulation.

“Republicans, Democrats, individuals throughout the state of Texas, need to make it possible for we all know who’s in search of to affect the outcomes of elections,” O’Rourke stated.

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