Thread by @ProPublica

1/ The presidential election is two full years away, so why are some Democrats already running Facebook ads* targeted to Iowa liberals? 🤔

*The following ads are from our Political Ad Collector: propub.li/2FvcApa

2/ Montana @GovernorBullock wants “very liberal” Iowans to sign his petition to “OVERTURN Citizens United.” propub.li/2A7bCJD

3/ @RepSwalwell, D-Calif., invites Iowans who like Barack Obama to “see how he [Swalwell] fights for Americans like you every day.” propub.li/2TsOXAl

4/ @SenJeffmerkley, D-Ore., has urged liberal Iowans to sign up to join the “blue wave” — on a “Blue Wave Project” he founded. propub.li/2Adrlqu

5/ @RepJohnDelaney, D-Md., as early as June 2018 targeted certain Iowans — it’s not clear whom — about “how we can unify our divided nation.” propub.li/2A9uU0X

6/ Are they running for president? Delaney has said he is. A “person close to” Swalwell recently told Politico that he’s running. Bullock and Merkley have each been reported to be considering a run, but they didn’t return a request for comment. politico.com/story/2018/11/…

7/ Potential candidates’ ads may be trying to increase their name recognition, get in front of politically active Iowans who may have outsize influence and build lists of supporters they can send email to or ask for donations.

8/ At least 15 other candidates — including big names and some lower-profile senators, representatives, governors and even mayors — are running ads about liberal policy priorities nationwide, not just in their home states.

9/ Many better-known potential candidates — Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Amy Klobuchar, Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand, Cory Booker — are running ads about liberal policy priorities nationwide, not just in their home states. Examples:
propub.li/2FvcApa

10/ Other potential candidates who are less well known — Eric Garcetti, Terry McAuliffe, Michael Bennet, Joe Kennedy III, Sherrod Brown, Chris Murphy, Gavin Newsom — are also running ads nationwide.
propub.li/2FvcApa

11/ Even though the election is over, our Facebook Political Ad Collector project isn’t. These ads were contributed by participants in that project; you can help us read the tea leaves by installing the extension. Join the project here: propub.li/2FvcApa