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Setting down an early marker, House Republicans have reserved nearly $1 million in TV ads targeting Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah.

The airtime is part of a broader $18 million purchase by the National Republican Congressional Committee in 16 different markets.

First reported by Roll Call, the NRCC is spending heavily in Denver, Las Vegas and a bunch of midwestern cities, targeting vulnerable Democrats and protecting freshmen Republicans.

The Republican group has locked in $948,000 in Salt Lake City, their latest effort to extract Matheson, a six-term Democrat, from the House. Matheson is running against Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love in what is expected to be one of the most watched House races in the nation.

-- Matt Canham
Twitter: @mattcanham

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