Invest in Tomorrow Coalition PAC (ITC PAC) is getting involved in the GOP primary battle between incumbent Congressman Andy Ogles and challenger Charlie Hatcher, dairy farmer and former Tennessee commissioner agriculture, in a big way. ITC PAC is reportedly planning to spend a million dollars over the next two weeks leading up to the August 6 primary date on a combination of pro-Hatcher and anti-Ogles tv ads. Early voting is already underway.
ITC PAC has already purchased about $700,000 in ad time that’s targeting the middle Tennessee area. The district stretches from Williamson County north across the Kentucky border and then south along the Mississippi river to Memphis. The PAC has made it clear that their interest is less focused on electing Hatcher than in defeating Ogles.
One ad currently airing does focus on a positive presentation of Hatcher.
A second ad hits Ogles, accusing Ogles of resume inflation and other attacks based upon a pattern of flamboyant claims and financial miscues.
Tom Matzzie, the PAC’s chair and CEO of CleanChoice Energy, made the real motive plain: The spending is designed “to communicate a message to the other members of Congress that if you take these extreme positions, the industry is watching.”
“If you’re an extremist on American energy, you’re on our target list,” Matzzie declared.
In addition to the tv ads, ITC PAC has developed a website Lyin Andy, detailing the Ogles record.
Ogles has been endorsed by President Trump and by the House Freedom Caucus, which has spent large sums to help Ogles in past campaigns. However, their presence in this year’s primary has been limited.
Ogles has been a notoriously poor fundraiser himself and has not raised significant direct contributions during this campaign, which continues to make him vulnerable. Chaz Molder, Democrat Mayor of Columbia, is expected to easily win his primary and the Democrats plan to support him heavily in the general election due to Ogles’ perceived weakness, despite the newly mapped district being approximately +12 Republican in composition. Molder already has a war chest of about $1.5 million cash on hand.
Ogles’ advocates have been critical of the motives behind ITC PAC pouring money into Tennessee to defeat him. However, many political observers believe Hatcher appeals more to the more rural nature of the district after redistricting was completed in May and improves the chances of Republicans hanging onto the seat. There have been no public polls regarding the status of the race.
Steve Gill is editor and Publisher of TriStar Daily.
