Republicans reserve $1.75M in ads for last week of Calif. Senate race

GOP reserves $1.75M for ads in Calif. Senate race

WASHINGTON — Republicans have reserved $1.75 million for television ads to help Carly Fiorina in the final week of the California Senate race.

The commitment signals GOP optimism about unseating three-term Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer in November. The Republicans plan to target the Los Angeles market and the money would buy enough air time for viewers to see an ad — at least in part — 10 times.

Amber Marchand, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, confirmed the decision to invest in the bid of former Hewlett-Packard CEO Fiorina. She called the race “a highly competitive pickup opportunity for Republicans.”

Previously, the committee had declined to say where it would be putting its money going into the Nov. 2 election.

The committee has been reluctant in the past to spend money in California races because Democrats have a huge edge in voter registration and races are so expensive.

Julie Soderlund, a spokeswoman for the Fiorina campaign, said the commitment shows that Republicans will be on offense during the campaign’s final week.

“It certainly sends a strong message about just how winnable this state is and how much excitement there is,” Soderlund said.

Rose Kapolczynski, Boxer’s campaign manager, said the Republicans were dumping money into California to try to remake Fiorina, who was fired from HP in 2005.