In a sign of support for the Massachusetts US representative seen as most politically vulnerable in this year’s elections, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has booked more than $1.4 million worth of television time this fall to help Congressman John Tierney, a Salem Democrat.
The reservation is part of a $43.5 million national effort to shore up incumbent Democratic representatives and attack potentially beatable Republicans. The DCCC is focused on wresting control of the US House of Representatives from the GOP.
The reservation for Tierney includes $965,000 on Boston broadcast television from Oct. 28 through Nov. 4 and $460,000 from Oct. 7 through Nov. 4 on cable TV, according to a DCCC aide.
Advertisement
While the reservations are not ironclad — the committee could later choose to spend the money elsewhere — they do offer a template for how the group plans to spend its resources.
The national Democratic establishment has not been shy about voicing support for Tierney since he squeaked out a re-election victory in November 2012 after being buffeted by sharp winds of innuendo stemming from a family gambling scandal.
In August, US House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi joined Tierney at an event in Beverly. In October, Tierney joined President Obama at a high-dollar Democratic fund-raiser in Massachusetts, after flying into Boston with him on Air Force One.
“Your own Congressman John Tierney is here,” Obama said at the fund-raiser. “Where’s John? Doing a great job. Very proud of him.”
Tierney, first elected to Congress in 1996, faces Democratic primary challenges from Marine veteran Seth Moulton and immigration attorney Marisa DeFranco.
Republican Richard Tisei, who lost to Tierney in 2012, is running for the North Shore-anchored seat again. Political handicappers see the race as competitive.
Joshua Miller can be reached at joshua.miller@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @jm_bos.
Advertisement