Republican underdogs and their supporters are frantically trying to qualify for next week’s debate, and are hitting the airwaves to build support, according to an NBC News report.
Republicans and groups backing them had spent about $7.9 million as of last week, according to the findings. Conservative Solutions Project, which supports Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., topped the list at $2.6 million. Next was New Day for America, which backs Ohio Gov. John Kasich, at $2.1 million.
Rubio is likely to qualify for the August 6 debate in Cleveland. Only the top 10 candidates, plus ties, will participate, and 16 prominent Republicans are seeking the party’s presidential nomination.
Kasich is one of those who are flirting with the top 10. According to an average of polls compiled by RealClearPolitics, he’s now in 10th places with 2.2 percent.
Others are close. Among them: the Opportunity and Freedom PAC, which backs former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, now in 11th place, $1.3 million; three groups supporting Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, now in 13th place, $1.1 million; America Leads PAC, which is behind New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who’s ninth, $500,000, and We the People, not Washington, which supports former New York Gov. George Pataki, $272,000.
Also on the list are the campaigns of Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, $35,000, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., $12,000 and former business executive Carly Fiorina, $3,000. A SuperPAC backing former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, a Democrat, has spent $25,000.
David Lightman: 202-383-6101, @lightmandavid