UPDATE 1:15 p.m. ET: The Clinton campaign has delayed its $63,000 ad buy after it was criticized for using a natural disaster to woo voters.
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Millions of Americans will tune in to The Weather Channel over the next few days for the most up-to-date information on Hurricane Matthew. But if anxious coastal dwellers were planning to avoid presidential politics as they try to stay safe, they will be disappointed.
The Hillary Clinton campaign has reportedly paid $63,000 to reserve political ad time on The Weather Channel. The ads are expected to air in the swing state of Florida over the the next five days, Fox News reported. Florida's Atlantic Coast is forecast to be among the hardest hit as the Category 4 storm moves north off the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
But it's not just in Florida where the Clinton campaign is buying attention. As Politico pointed out, The Weather Channel often has more viewers in every part of the country before and during a natural disaster like Hurricane Matthew. That could explain why the Clinton campaign has purchased roughly the same amount of ad time in the battleground states of Pennsylvania and New Hampshire.
Kristy Campbell, onetime press secretary for former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), tweeted her thoughts Wednesday on the "colossally huge and unforced error," adding that the "insensitive" move "will piss off Floridians."
This is a colossally huge and unforced error by the Clinton camp. Insensitive and will piss off Floridians. https://t.co/ok2ZYEPn7K
— Kristy Campbell (@kristymcampbell) October 5, 2016
A spokesman for the Clinton campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. However, the Democratic presidential nominee tweeted about the impending hurricane on Wednesday, urging her followers "to follow emergency instructions and evacuate if you're told to."
Hurricane #Matthew is a major storm. I urge everyone to follow emergency instructions and evacuate if you're told to. Stay safe Florida. -H https://t.co/zYgTH1oMbc
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 6, 2016
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