U.S. Sen. John Ensign, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, pledged today that his committee would match the amount of independent expenditures in advertising made by the National Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

The DSCC recently announced a $44.8 million ad buy nationwide, which includes $5 million for the Maine Senate race between incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, R-Bangor, and challenger U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, D-Portland.

In a statement today, Ensign said:

"(Chairman) Chuck Schumer and the Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) have recently placed television buys totaling approximately $44.8 million in targeted Senate races across the country. I will not allow our Republican candidates to be outspent by the DSCC this cycle. Therefore, it is my intention to give the NRSC's IE Unit the total budget to match the DSCC dollar for dollar in every state they run ads.

"While I am aware we do not currently have the funds to match the DSCC, I am giving our IE Unit this budget on faith -- faith that my Republican colleagues will step up to the challenge and transfer the funds necessary to remain competitive with the Democrats. I have informed my colleagues that it is now up to them.”

NRSC Communications Director John Randall said that he is not sure how the money will be divided – that is done by an independent arm of the committee that he and Chairman Ensign do not have contact with – however they will attempt to match it as closely state by state as they can.

In addition to the recent $5 million ad buy, the DSCC has given $460,425 to the Maine Democratic State Committee, which funds the Coordinated Campaign.