Ad Wars Heat Up in Senate Race

WASHINGTON (AP) – Sen. Thad Cochran is running ads against “powerful interests” that are funneling millions of dollars to his challenger in the Republican primary.

Two of those outside groups, meanwhile, are airing their own ads criticizing the six-term Mississippian. Cochran’s television ad released Monday says his GOP rival, Chris McDaniel, wouldn’t do anything to help Mississippi voters. The ad says McDaniel is backed by out-of-state interest groups.

The anti-tax Club for Growth is running ads linking Cochran with former presidents Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush, who broke his no-new-taxes pledge. The ad says “five decades in Washington is enough” for Cochran.

And a Senate Conservatives Action ad features video of McDaniel pledging “we will not compromise.”

The flurry of ads suggests Cochran could face trouble ahead of his June 3 primary.