Madison — A day after U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin spoke at the Republican National Convention, a group affiliated with the conservative Koch brothers pulled more than $2 million in ad time in the Badger State.
The move came a day after the National Senate Republican Committee modified its planned help for Johnson, pushing back an ad campaign that was to start next month until October.
Wednesday's development provides another sign Johnson could get less outside support than had been expected. Johnson faces former Sen. Russ Feingold in one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country.
Freedom Partners Action Fund began an ad campaign in May attacking Feingold about the handling of the over-prescription of opiates at the veterans clinic in Tomah. Freedom Partners is funded by the billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch.
A spokesman for the group, James Davis, said in a statement it was "realigning" its ad buying strategy "to ensure maximum impact across key Senate races." He made the comment after three Democratic sources that track ad buys confirmed Freedom Partners had dropped $2.2 million in ad time it had reserved in Wisconsin in August and September.
Johnson spokesman Brian Reisinger downplayed the move by Freedom Partners.
koch bros basically support clinton now lololol
