The race for the 2nd Congressional District in Eastern Kansas is attracting a mountain of outside spending.
Two major players have weighed in since the primary, working on behalf of Republican Steve Watkins and Democrat Paul Davis. The Congressional Leadership Fund, which helps Republican House candidates, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
According to numbers compiled by ProPublica, those two organizations have dumped more than $2 million into the race.
A recent attack ad against Davis was paid for by a Republican House leadership group. Davis says the money reflects a belief that either side could win.
“It’s an open congressional seat, first of all. There aren’t always a lot of those," Davis says. "There are more so this year than there usually are. I think on the Republican side, they’re worried.”
But ads attacking Watkins and supporting Davis have also been paid for by outside organizations.
The cash is fueling a television ad blitz. The intense interest is because races like this one could decide whether Republicans keep control of the U.S. House.
Watkins and Davis could could spar over the ads during debates next month.
Stephen Koranda has more: