The Republican Governors Association continues to pour money into Vermont. Today the RGA’s local outlet, A Stronger Vermont, reported spending another $252,826.90 on TV and digital advertising in support of Gov. Phil Scott and against Democratic challenger Amanda Janoo. (Mass media expenditures must be reported to the state within 24 hours when an election is 45 or fewer days away.) That’s on top of previously reported spending of $174,562, for a grand total of $427,388.90 — all of it deployed in the last five days.

If you’ve been paying close attention, you might recall that the RGA devoted $400,000 to help ASV defend Scott against his toughest electoral challenge in a decade, and that ASV has now overshot that total. Well, never fear, because the RGA has reported giving ASV another $400,000. I think we can expect that money to be spent quickly, with more likely on the way.

A Stronger Vermont has now spent more this year than in any campaign since 2018. It spent a total of $218,717.40 in 2020 to help defeat David Zuckerman. If ASV spends its entire $800,000 in RGA funds and goes anywhere beyond that, it will eclipse the $826,365.84 spent in 2018 against Christine Hallquist.

This is remarkable stuff, given that Janoo is at a substantial disadvantage in name recognition and has never before sought public office. In a year when Republicans are fighting desperately to stave off a national Democratic wave, they are committing more and more money to defend the guy who used to be, not that long ago, America’s most popular governor. And some thought this was going to be a sleepy election season.