Are national Democrats pulling back on Ohio Senate race?

Two major Democratic money spigots are slowing their advertising flow in Ohio aimed at boosting Ted Strickland's bid to oust GOP Sen. Rob Portman.

Strickland and his Democratic allies downplayed the developments. But others will surely read the ad delays as a possible retrenchment of Democratic support for Strickland, who has been outraised and outmaneuvered by Portman.

The Senate Majority PAC, a super PAC devoted to electing Democrats to the Senate, canceled television air time it had reserved in key Ohio markets for Sept. 6 through Sept. 16. That's a key moment in the campaign, as many voters start tuning in to the election after Labor Day. A spokesman for the super PAC said the group will now begin ads two weeks later, on Sept. 20.

“We regularly adjust strategy to maximize our resources and make sure we’re in the best possible position to win back the majority this November," said Shripal Shah, the Senate Majority PAC's spokesman.

The super PAC's decision comes as the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee decided to delay, by one week, its plan to spend as much as $10 million on the Ohio race. As first reported by The Washington Post, the DSCC ad campaign was slated to start on Sept. 13, but the first week of ads has now been canceled.

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David Bergstein, a spokesman for Strickland's campaign, said the DSCC's independent expenditures were replaced — not canceled — by a more direct and immediate infusion. The national committee is helping to foot the bill now for a pro-Strickland ad that went on the air last week. It ties Portman to GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump and highlights their shared opposition to abortion rights, among other issues.

“The DSCC is spending the same amount of money they were slated to spend, it’s just being used to help fund our existing ad instead of through an independent expenditure,” Bergstein said.

A spokeswoman for the DSCC suggested the committee's move was a timing shift, not a tactical retreat.

“We’re proud to support Ted’s campaign in a variety of ways, including with the ad buy we are funding right now featuring an ad with important information about Trump and Portman and their dangerous positions on women’s health,” said DSCC spokeswoman Sadie Weiner.

DSCC strategists may be waiting to see if the new attacks on Portman — linking him to Trump on women’s issues — will give Strickland a boost before they decide whether to invest more resources or redirect the committee’s limited funds to other races.

In recent weeks, Portman has overtaken Strickland in the polls, although the race is still close and could be heavily shaped by the presidential contest between Trump and Democratic contender Hillary Clinton.

In one bright spot for Strickland, he won an endorsement from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a progressive firebrand who proved himself a fundraising powerhouse in his bid against Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination. Strickland allies hope Sanders' support will give him a financial boost from small donors.

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