Senate GOP campaign arm makes ad buy in Nebraska Senate race

Senate Republicans’ campaign arm is getting involved in one of Nebraska's Senate races with an ad boosting Sen. Deb Fischer (R), the incumbent who is polling only a bit ahead of her independent challenger, Dan Osborn. 

The ad tracking company AdImpact posted on the social platform X on Thursday that the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) placed a $172,000 coordinated ad buy with Fischer’s campaign as she tries to fend off Osborn. 

Mike Berg, communications director for the NRSC, in a statement accused Democratic dark money groups of “dumping millions” of dollars into the race to prop up Osborn. 

“The NRSC will help Trump-endorsed Deb Fischer fight back against the left-wing smear campaign national Democrats are waging against her,” Berg said. 

Fischer is running for her third term in the Senate in a solidly red state but is facing a more significant challenge than originally expected from Osborn, who is not running under the banner of any political party. 

The state Democratic Party did not field a candidate due to Osborn’s candidacy, but Osborn said he would run without the help of any party. 

Osborn is a political newcomer and career mechanic who often touts his union membership. Observers have been skeptical he can oust Fischer from her seat, but the relatively few polls taken of the race have shown it to be close. 

She led by just 1 point in a SurveyUSA/Split Ticket poll taken late last month, while a survey sponsored by Osborn’s campaign showed him up 1 point. 

Still, the forecast from Decision Desk HQ/The Hill gives Fischer a 96 percent chance of winning. But the fact the NRSC is getting involved is still notable for a state that hasn’t elected a non-Republican senator since 2006.

The buy came after a conservative super PAC reportedly began running nearly a half-million dollars worth of ads against Osborn, and it represents the first outside spending to support Fischer, Rolling Stone reported.