The “super PAC†aiding Mitt Romney, Restore Our Future, is making a push into Pennsylvania, a state that has been considered a strong bet for President Obama.
On Monday the group put down just under $1 million for a slate of television commercials through next Monday, the day before the presidential election.
Right now no other political groups supporting the presidential candidates - nor either of campaigns - have deemed Pennsylvania competitive enough to place any resources on the air there. But Restore Our Future's advertising purchase could prompt others to follow suit.
Much of the $200,000 purchase includes the voter-rich Philadelphia media market, where Republicans believe they can make inroads with a number of different demographics, including Jewish voters who may be open the arguments put forward by the Romney campaign that Mr. Obama has not been supportive of Israel. Republicans have sought to drive distance between Mr. Obama and his Jewish constituency because of the recent tension between the United States and Israel over Iran.
To be sure, Restore Our Future has been making some of the more long-odd bets in recent weeks. It continues to have a strong presence on the air in Michigan, which has been strongly leaning toward Mr. Obama in many recent polls. But the group also placed what ended up being a smart - and seemingly long-shot - bet on Wisconsin earlier this fall when few others were willing to devote resources there.
Now many polls show Wisconsin, home of the Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan, to be competitive.
Follow Jeremy W. Peters on Twitter at @ jwpetersNYT .
