Alexander Camp Pays $1 Million for TV Ads in Iowa, N.H.

Top advisors to Republican presidential aspirant Lamar Alexander told reporters that his campaign has purchased $1 million of television air time for commercials targeting the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary in February.

In the Republican race, the former U.S. education secretary and Tennessee governor is way behind Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole of Kansas, who leads in polls by about 40 percentage points, trailed by Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas. Alexander is back in the single digits, bunched with commentator Patrick J. Buchanan, businessman Malcolm S. “Steve” Forbes Jr. and Sen. Richard G. Lugar of Indiana.

The Alexander team said the ads will air in Iowa and New Hampshire starting next month as a way to propel the candidate into what is hoped will be at least a second-place finish in both states. Good showings in those states are considered key to gaining momentum and campaign funds for the rest of the primaries and caucuses before the Republican National Convention in San Diego in August.