2018 Senate ads already hitting Indiana airwaves

WASHINGTON — Republicans hoping to take over Indiana’s Senate seat next year are pressuring Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., to vote for President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee.

Democrats are trying to keep the public’s attention focused on the GOP health care bill.

In the first 2018 campaign ads by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, a mother is shown pawning her engagement ring to pay for her daughter’s health care.

“What will the Republican health care bill cost you?” the ad asks. It’s running digitally and on cable in Indiana and 13 other states.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee ran its first 2018 ad in Indiana last month. Like the new digital ads, that television ad focused on Trump’s nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.

Donnelly has not said if he will vote to confirm Gorsuch.

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“Hoosiers elected President Trump to appoint a justice to the Supreme Court,” the new ad says. “Our president has done its job. Senator Donnelly, it’s time to put politics aside and do yours.”

Republicans need eight Democrats to agree to allow a vote on confirming President Trump’s nominee, Neil Gorsuch, to prevent a filibuster.

Donnelly is also being hit by advertising from outside groups supporting Gorsuch.

In addition to the digital ads on the Supreme Court opening, Republicans are also running digital ads in Indiana and 11 other states about health care.

“Democrats made false promises,” one ad says. “Now Republicans are working hard to fix it.”

Another ad says Republicans couldn’t go as far as they wanted to with their replacement health care bill because of procedural rules, so they will take additional actions to reduce insurance regulations.

Contact Maureen Groppe at mgroppe@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @mgroppe.