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Hatch campaign suspends ads in 2 TV markets

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September 22nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) ā€” The campaign of Democratic candidate for governor Jack Hatch has suspended television ads in two Iowa markets and changed its advertising strategy in two others but denies it’s a sign the campaign is struggling financially. “We’re just redistributing how we’re doing some things to reflect the polling that we’re seeing,” said Grant Woodard, Hatch’s campaign manager. Woodard said as polls change “we’re going to make decisions accordingly.”

Television ad buys in the Sioux City and Davenport markets have been placed on hold and ad schedules on Des Moines and Cedar Rapids stations have been changed. Branstad’s campaign manager, Jake Ketzner, said it’s a signal the Hatch campaign is struggling to find the money to stay on television. “The story is, it’s 43 days out and he’s broke and he can’t be on TV,” Ketzner said.

Branstad is running ads in nearly all of Iowa’s major television markets in addition to Mason City, Ottumwa and Quincy, Illinois, which reaches into the state’s southeast corner, Ketzner said. Campaign financial reports show Hatch’s campaign had $183,000 in cash on hand in July, the most recent reporting period for which records are available. Branstad’s committee had $4 million.