GOP Senate Campaign Pauses TV Ads as Polls Show Growing Gap

2 min read

Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley has paused television advertising for the final weeks of North Carolina’s Senate race, as his campaign faces a growing polling gap against Democrat Roy Cooper. According to political ad-tracking firm AdImpact, Whatley’s last broadcast television ad aired October 7, and as of Wednesday, his campaign had no future linear TV reservations scheduled through election day, November 3.

Significant Spending Disparity

The disparity in future television advertising is substantial. AdImpact data shows Cooper’s campaign has $7.4 million in future TV reservations, while Whatley’s campaign has none. Democrat-aligned outside groups have reserved another $11.2 million for Cooper, compared to $4.7 million for Whatley, giving Cooper a four-to-one advantage in future booked television spending.

Polling Indicates Strong Lead

The latest WRAL/WSOC poll found Cooper leading Whatley by 14 points, 54% to 40%, among likely voters. The SurveyUSA poll, conducted October 7–11 and including 643 respondents who had already voted by mail or indicated they were likely to vote, also showed Cooper with a significant lead.

Campaign Stands by Its Strategy

Whatley’s campaign says the pause is temporary and insists it has the resources to compete. Campaign spokesman DJ Griffin stated, “It’s a temporary pause and we’ll be back on the air shortly with our closing message.” Griffin hinted that the message may question Cooper’s health and ability to serve in the Senate, asserting the campaign’s confidence in winning in November.

Republican Groups Retreat

The gap reflects a broader retreat by national Republican groups from North Carolina. The Senate Leadership Fund, a major GOP-aligned super PAC, paused its spending in the state earlier this month, while other Republican groups have also pulled back. This follows months of polling showing Cooper ahead of Whatley, the former RNC chairman endorsed by President Donald Trump.

Democrats Recalibrate Spending

Democrats are also adjusting their spending strategy. Senate Majority PAC, which supports Democrat Senate candidates, has begun pausing some of its North Carolina advertising as the party redirects resources toward other competitive contests. Despite this, Cooper’s campaign and allied groups retain a significant advantage in future television reservations.

Political Challenges and Strategy

Whatley has tied his campaign closely to Trump’s agenda, including the president’s tariffs and the war with Iran. Cooper has criticized both policies, arguing they have raised costs for North Carolina families. The latest WRAL/WSOC poll found that just 37% of likely voters approved of Trump’s job performance, while 60% disapproved.

Upcoming Events

Trump is scheduled to return to North Carolina for a rally in Greenville on October 20 during the first week of in-person early voting. The North Carolina seat is open due to the retirement of Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, a frequent critic of Trump.

Source: Daily Wire

Written by

Connor Davis