The conservative network controlled by billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch has canceled advertising in the Ohio Senate race in a sign GOP incumbent Sen. Rob Portman likely has a lock in the contest, The Hill reports.
According to The Hill, the GOP megadonors' network has already shelled out more $10 million on TV, radio and digital advertising in the crucial state. But they are now canceling about $2.1 million of ad reservations for late September.
"Rob Portman has run one of the strongest campaigns of the cycle, he maintains a significant lead in virtually every poll, and the dynamics of the race have changed," Koch network spokesman James Davis tells The Hill.
"We will remain on air through Sept. 14 with our current ads, but given Portman's strong position in the race, we are going to drop the remaining reservation and reserve flexibility over future spending."
Portman leads Strickland by 7.5 percentage points, according to an averaging of polls by Real Clear Politics.
The decision comes in the wake of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's delay of its ad schedule in Ohio.
Portman is being challenged by the state's former Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland.
"Our network has invested more in Ohio than any other race in the country," Davis tells The Hill. "That investment put Ted Strickland’s failed record as governor front-and-center and kept him on defense throughout the race."
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