Cantor-linked group bringing ads to NC Congressional races

Both Rouzer and McIntyre have benefited from ads aired by national Republican and Democratic Congressional campaign groups. 

But now an independent political spending group linked to U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor will be spending at least $480,000 in the 7th District, according to reports on file with the Federal Communications Commission. Those ads are scheduled to start running on Monday. 

"Mike McIntyre pretends to be a conservative in North Carolina, but in Washington he's a liberal who Barack Obama called 'outstanding,' one who voted for Nancy Pelosi for Speaker four different times, which led to Obamacare for North Carolina," said Brad Dayspring, a senior adviser to the group. 

Young Guns will also back Richard Hudson in his bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell (D - NC, 8th District). Like McIntyre, Kissell is a relatively conservative Democrat trying to defend a district that has become much more friendly to Republicans after state lawmakers redrew the state's political map last year. 

McIntyre's campaign is well-funded. He reported having $1.1 million on hand as of July 1 and has been on the air with his own, mainly positive ads. 

Rouzer, by comparison, reported $171,608 cash on hand at the mid-way point of the year after a contentious primary. While he'll almost certainly raise more going into the fall, ads by outside groups like Young Guns will mean he doesn't have to raise as much.

According to FCC documents, Young Guns bought ads through September. Asked if the group would continue its buy through October, Dayspring said Young Guns will continue monitoring the race and "remain actively engaged."

The ad hasn't been released yet, but Dayspring said that it would both boost Rouzer and take some shots at McItnyre.

"(T)here are two Mike McIntyres, phony Mike in North Carolina and real liberal Mike in Washington," Dayspring wrote in an email. "North Carolinians deserve to have as much information as possible."

McIntyre Campaign Manager Lachlan McIntosh dismissed the pending attack, saying outside groups like Young Guns often distort a candidate's record.  

"These outside special interest groups want to defeat Mike McIntyre because he always puts the interests of eastern North Carolina first. David Rouzer is a former lobbyist who will do what he's told by the Washington, D.C., insiders," McIntosh said. "There is only one Mike McIntyre. He is an independent voice who puts the concerns of the people back home over the special interest groups."