Pro-Collins super PAC's anti-Troy Jackson ad ran in Portland, Oregon, not Portland, Maine
Defending Main Street PAC, affiliated with Sen. Susan Collins's allies, says a vendor placed about $25,000 of ads attacking Democrat Troy Jackson in Portland, Oregon, instead of Portland, Maine. The PAC says it is being refunded in full.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2A GOP-affiliated super PAC, Defending Main Street, spent roughly $20,000–$25,000 on digital ads attacking Maine Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson that ran in Portland, Oregon, rather than Portland, Maine. Raw StoryL “spent between $20,000 and $25,000 on a 30-second ad attacking Jackson “and all his taxes.” But according to Google’s ad records, the ad ran in Portland, Oregon” Read at Raw Story ↗ Washington ExaminerR “earmarked around $25,000 for digital advertising that was accidentally spent in Portland, Oregon, instead of Collins’s home state of Maine” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Left · 1The Intercept reported the mix-up on Monday, saying the video ad was shown more than 1 million times in the wrong Portland; an X user, waprog, first posted screenshots of the targeting data. Raw StoryL “The group paid for the video ad to show more than 1 million times in the wrong Portland”“An X user, waprog, first posted screenshots of the targeting data.” Read at Raw Story ↗ Right · 1According to the Washington Examiner, Google Ads shows the commercials ran for four days, from Oct. 8 to Oct. 11, and targeted zip codes in Oregon and Washington state. Washington ExaminerR “Google Ads confirms that the commercials ran for four days, from Oct. 8 to Oct. 11, and targeted zip codes in Oregon and Washington state.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Right · 1A PAC spokesperson said its media vendor mistakenly placed the ads, that the error was identified and the ads stopped and corrected, and that the vendor is refunding the full amount, so no donor funds will be lost. Washington ExaminerR “the vendor is refunding Defending Main Street the full amount of the misplaced spend. No donor funds will be lost as a result of the vendor’s error.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Left · 1Raw Story, citing The Intercept, said the ad was fixed a few hours after the targeting data surfaced. Raw StoryL “The ad was fixed a few hours later.” Read at Raw Story ↗ Right · 1The ad says "Maine can’t afford Troy Jackson and all his taxes," linking him to tax hikes passed during his time as a state legislator. Washington ExaminerR ““Maine can’t afford Troy Jackson and all his taxes,” the ad says.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Left · 1The PAC describes itself as supporting the governing wing of the Republican Party and is affiliated with the Republican Main Street Partnership, whose members include Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). Raw StoryL “The super PAC is affiliated with the Republican Main Street Partnership, which counts Jackson’s opponent, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), among its members.” Read at Raw Story ↗ Left · 1Andy O’Brien, a former Maine state lawmaker who supports Jackson, called the mix-up "hilarious" and said it showed the spenders do not know Maine. Raw StoryL “It’s clear these people don’t know anything about Maine, because they’re directing their ads to the wrong Portland.”” Read at Raw Story ↗ Right · 1The Washington Examiner called the sum a drop in the bucket against the more than $250 million both parties have spent in Maine, with Republicans near $150 million and Democrats almost $110 million, per AdImpact. Washington ExaminerR “Republicans have invested nearly $150 million into the state as of last week, according to AdImpact. Democrats have contributed almost $110 million.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Mixed · 2Jackson replaced Graham Platner as the Democratic nominee in July and several recent polls show him with a slim edge over Collins, who is seeking a sixth term; the third of four debates is Tuesday. Raw StoryL “But Jackson, who replaced Graham Platner as the Democratic nominee in July, has kept pace with Collins, and several recent polls show him with a slim edge.” Read at Raw Story ↗ Washington ExaminerR “Collins, who has represented Maine in the Senate for three decades, is running for her sixth term in November.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Mocking take on Collins allies' embarrassing blunder, relaying The Intercept.
- Emphasis
- Embarrassment, million-plus views, outside money in Maine, Jackson's polling edge.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The vendor-error explanation and full refund are not reported.
- Charged language
- “‘Hilarious’”“burn up”“embarrassing”
- For example
-
“appeared to have made an “embarrassing” mix-up when picking its audience” — Raw Story
Centre1 outlet
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Reports an accidental vendor error with the PAC's explanation and refund.
- Emphasis
- PAC statement, refund, spending context, campaign background.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not include the 1 million-view figure or reaction from Jackson's supporters.
- Charged language
- “accidentally”
- For example
-
“The commercial is just a drop in the bucket relative to the more than $250 million both parties have poured into Maine” — Washington Examiner
What every side reports
- Defending Main Street PAC's anti-Jackson ad ran in Portland, Oregon instead of Portland, Maine.
- The spend was about $25,000 (Raw Story: $20,000–$25,000).
- The ad was corrected after the error was found.
Where accounts differ
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Scale and consequence of the error
- Left
- Raw Story stresses the embarrassment, citing the ad's 1 million-plus views in the wrong place and a Jackson supporter's mockery.
- Right
- The Washington Examiner stresses the PAC's vendor-error explanation, full refund and that the sum is minor next to $250 million spent in Maine.
Defending Main Street PAC organisation
Says its media vendor erred, the ads were stopped and corrected, and the vendor is refunding the full amount.
“The error was identified, the ads were immediately stopped and corrected” — Washington Examiner
Troy Jackson person
Target of the ad; a supporter mocked the error, and Jackson is described as competitive in polls.
“called the mix-up “hilarious.”” — Raw Story
Susan Collins person
Not quoted; described as affiliated with the Republican Main Street Partnership and seeking a sixth term.
“is running for her sixth term in November” — Washington Examiner
Left1 article
-
‘Hilarious’: Susan Collins allies burn up to $25K attacking her rival in the wrong state
Mixed Gleeful account of the blunder, relaying The Intercept and a Jackson supporter.
Centre1 article
Right1 article
-
Pro-Susan Collins PAC accidentally spends thousands attacking Troy Jackson in the wrong Portland
Neutral Straightforward report centred on the PAC's vendor-error and refund statement.
- 12 Oct 19:10 First Raw StoryL ‘Hilarious’: Susan Collins allies burn up to $25K attacking her rival in the wrong state
- 12 Oct 20:01 +52m Washington ExaminerR Pro-Susan Collins PAC accidentally spends thousands attacking Troy Jackson in the wrong Portland
- 12 Oct 20:15 +1h 5m NewsweekN Pro-Susan Collins Group Spends $25,000 in the Wrong Portland
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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