WASHINGTON – Attempt to prevent a setback on Tuesday in Mississippi According to figures set for USA TODAY by Kantar Media / CMAG, Republicans have aired four TV ads out of three paid by Democrats.

Even though his Democratic opponent, Mike Espy, remains the underdog in a state that has not elected a Democrat since 1982, his ads and those of his allies hope to take advantage of the mistakes of Senator GOP, Cindy Hyde-Smith.

Espy's ads claim that Hyde-Smith is a disaster and an embarrassment for Mississippi.

"We can not afford a senator who embarrasses us and reinforces the stereotypes that we have worked so hard to overcome," said one day.

Meanwhile, the Republican ads describe the second round as a choice between someone who aligns on the "left mob" – including opposing President Trump's bid to the Supreme Court – and one of his powerful supporters.

"Espy has already sided with the radical left opposite Judge Kavanaugh," says an advertisement paid by a super GOP GOP. "Then they will demand that he support the opening of the borders and abolish ICE."

This message will be reinforced on Monday when Trump holds two rallies on election night for Hyde-Smith in Mississippi.

The candidates were forced to argue after none of them won a majority in the November 6 election, during which Republicans extended their narrow majority in the Senate. If Hyde-Smith wins on Tuesday, Republicans will have 53 seats next year instead of the 51 they're holding now.

Hyde-Smith continues to face the consequences of a joke on a public hanging hanging on Nov. 2, while praising a longtime friend. She said, "I would fight with a circular saw for him.If he invited me to a public hanging, I would be in the first row."

The comment quickly became viral, critics claiming that he conjured images of lynchings and the racist past of Mississippi. Espy is African-American.

Several companies, including Walmart, have requested the return of donations. Major League Baseball has also recently requested a $ 5,000 donation, although this contribution was paid several weeks after Hyde-Smith's remark.

Hyde-Smith apologized "for all those who were offended by my comments," while accusing Espy's campaign of misrepresenting his remarks for "political gain."

Three of Espy's ads mention these remarks, including one starring a Republican declared as such, telling a MSNBC reporter that he supported Espy. The voter says there are many Republicans who were hardcore fans of Hyde-Smith but can not believe what she said.

"And they are very scared of what she's going to say," he adds.

More: MLB wants $ 5,000 donation after controversial comments by US Senate candidate Cindy Hyde-Smith

More: Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith attended a school of segregation and congratulated the Confederates in legislation: reports

More: Trump: "It's a shame": Mississippi senator criticized for "hanging" comment

Espy, and the super PAC Democrats who support him, also attacked Hyde-Smith as part of the Democrats' favorite 2018 campaign: health care. Advertisements claim to be comfortable with the health insurance sector, to vote for "undesirable" insurance policies and not to protect people with Alzheimer's disease. pre-existing health problems.

But the label that Espy tries most to stick to Hyde-Smith is "disaster," a word used in most of his commercials, whether it's his controversial comment or other parts of his record.

"It's a disaster for Mississippi," said the announcer, while promising that Espy would "work for all parties."

Hyde-Smith, the first woman to represent Mississippi in Congress, was named to headquarters earlier this year to replace retired Senator Thad Cochran. He resigned early for health reasons.

In addition to the public hanging commentary, Hyde-Smith has more recently been in the spotlight thanks to reports that she attended a segregation academy in high school and praised the attempts of a Confederate soldier to "defend his homeland ".

In her advertisements, Hyde-Smith tries to distract voters from her – and the application of conservative values ​​she shares.

"It's not just for me," she says in an advertisement. "It's about you and what you believe in."

According to her, these beliefs are the "right to life", lower taxes, a stronger army, border security, 2nd Amendment protection and "all constitutional freedoms".

His ads, as well as those broadcast by Republican groups, are attacks against the record of Espy. Republicans blame him for being accused of corruption and fraud while serving as Secretary of Agriculture for President Bill Clinton, although the ads do not say he was acquitted. Some ads also mention the money that Espy has received from an Ivorian dictator as a lobbyist.

But the spots also strongly touched the themes put forward by Trump during his campaign for Republicans in the Senate this year.

"If the Democrats take control, they will raise your taxes, invade your streets with criminal aliens, weaken our armed forces, ban private health insurance and replace freedom with socialism," Trump says in a paid advertisement. Hyde-Smith and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Immigration, support for the agenda of judges Brett Kavanaugh and Trump of the Supreme Court of the Supreme Court were the themes most often mentioned in Republican advertisements.

Hyde-Smith and its allies spent about $ 2.7 million on cable television and television advertising, compared to the $ 1.2 million spent by Espy camp from November 7 to 24.

But the gap between the two parts narrows when we compare the number of spots instead of the money spent. (Ad rates vary depending on whether the candidate or an external group makes the purchase, and vary depending on when and where they broadcast.)

Republicans have paid 57% of the more than 8,700 ads shown.

Over the weekend, both parties called on fans to keep the ads running.

"I know that there is still a real chance to reverse a red seat in the Senate," said Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, leader of the Democratic Senators' campaign group, in an e-mail. .

Hyde-Smith asked the sponsors to "help me stop Clinton's sidekick, Mike Espy, and the progressive movement."

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