GOP targets Dems to push Biden on debt ceiling negotiations.

Republicans Launch Ad Campaign to Pressure Democrats on Debt Ceiling Negotiations

The National Republican Congressional Committee is targeting vulnerable Democratic House districts with a new ad campaign ahead of a major meeting between congressional leaders and President Joe Biden.

The ads aim to turn up the pressure on swing-district Democrats and push the president to negotiate on the debt ceiling. The five-figure campaign proclaims that Democrats “refuse to solve the spending crisis they created,” and highlights their voting against a “common-sense plan to tackle the government spending problem.”

Last month, Republicans released polling that found Biden’s insistence on raising the debt ceiling without cutting government spending is unpopular in swing districts. The ads launched just hours before Biden’s meeting with House Republican leadership to discuss the debt ceiling.

The House of Representatives passed a measure in April that would raise the debt ceiling while slashing federal spending, in order to rein in the $31 trillion national debt. However, Biden and Senate Democrats have refused to entertain the Republican proposal, which could lead the United States to default on its debt as early as June.

Tuesday’s meeting is the result of a concession from Biden, who initially said he would not meet with Republicans to discuss the debt before caving last week. Republicans hope that by pressuring 35 vulnerable Democrats, including Reps. Kim Schrier (D., Wash.) and Abigail Spanberger (D., Va.), they can get the White House to further bend to their position.

Despite the pressure, the White House has repeatedly said it will not negotiate on the issue and has claimed that the House Republican bill to raise the debt limit will “supercharge the fentanyl crisis.” Republicans say these accusations are baseless.

NRCC chairman Rep. Richard Hudson (N.C.) said Tuesday, “Extreme House Democrats demand to keep spending our money like drunken sailors or they’ll tank the economy and allow America to default.”

This Republican ad campaign comes after House Democrats’ attempt to derail House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R., Calif.) push to raise the debt ceiling with an ad campaign of their own. However, the much-hyped campaign resulted in just two ads that aired during daytime MSNBC shows, hours before the House voted to approve McCarthy’s measure.