A special election in a deep red state is "scaring" Republicans, who are pulling out multiple tactics in a "last-minute rescue mission" to try and "avoid embarrassment," an analyst said Monday.
The GOP is expected to use third-party groups to try and make gains in Tennessee's deep-red 7th congressional district ahead of the Dec. 2 election, as Democrats hope that the Epstein files will pull Republicans from supporting Republican Matt Van Epps and instead push them to cast their votes for Democrat Aftyn Behn, The Down Ballot's Jeff Singer reports. Epps and Behn are vying for the seat left vacant by Rep. Mark Green, a Republican, that could ultimately flip a House seat.
"Republicans tracking the race say Van Epps is ahead, but not by as much as they would like," Axios senior political reporter Alex Isenstadt reports.
The potential upset is putting Republicans on the offensive. The Club for Growth Action and Conservatives for American Excellence PAC (CAE PAC) are slated to spend more than $600,000 in the next several weeks to launch ad campaigns in the state.
It's a response to the more than $300,000 advertising campaign launched by a liberal group — Your Community PAC — targeting Van Epps and argues "that putting Van Epps in Congress would prevent the public from ever knowing the truth about convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein."
The commercial shows an animated Van Epps as a marionette whose puppeteer makes him throw out the key to a safe containing the files as a country singer says, "The Epstein files are locked away, Matt Van Epps will keep ‘em that way...“ and "Just a hedge fund puppet for the billionaire elite.”
Van Epps is expected to take on more "Trump-like messaging" as MAGA Inc., a GOP super PAC run by President Donald Trump's allies, has spent more than $15,000 on phone calls to voters in the district.
"While that’s still a pittance for a congressional race, the group’s foray could presage greater involvement if Trumpworld feels it needs to help Van Epps avoid embarrassment," The Down Ballot reports.
And with recent surveys showing Behn could have a path to victory, Republicans are taking a more aggressive approach.
"Republicans are confident of Van Epps will come out ahead, but aren't taking any chances," Isenstadt reports.