Democrats, grasping to keep House control, spend heavily to build dam against GOP wave

House Democrats try to build anti-GOP firewall

WASHINGTON — Democrats are pouring money into roughly two-dozen districts around the country and pulling it back from others as they struggle to keep control of the House in the campaign’s closing weeks.

In the face of polls suggesting Republican gains, the Democrats are hoping to build a firewall through TV ad blitzes shoring up their best-positioned candidates. At the same time, they’ve scaled back advertising plans for some other candidates, including Colorado Rep. Betsy Markey, New Mexico Rep. Harry Teague and Ohio Reps. Steve Driehaus and Mary Jo Kilroy.

Democrats strongly deny they’re abandoning those candidates, some of whom are benefiting from Democratic-leaning outside groups spending on their behalf.