Gov. Phil Scott’s whingeing about VPIRG attack ads seems even more petty now that the Republican Governors Association has dumped another $550,000 into its local outlet, A Stronger Vermont. For those keeping score, the RGA has now dedicated $950,000 to defending the man formerly known as the most popular governor in America. (ASV began the year with $70,000 in the bank, so its total resources now top the $1 million mark.) If you want a measure of his decline, there it is: In a year when the RGA faces an anti-Trump wave across the country, they’re investing big money into the guy who seemed unbeatable as recently as last spring.

Or to put it more precisely, they’re investing big money on attack ads aimed at undercutting Democratic challenger Amanda Janoo. A few months ago she didn’t even seem like a threat to win her party’s nomination, let alone have a chance to defeat the man who’s won more elections than any other Vermont politician in the 21st Century. (Scott’s record is 13-0 since he entered politics in 2000. His next defeat will be his first.)

A Stronger Vermont disclosed the $550,000 from RGA in a brand-new mass media filing that reports expenditures totaling $252,046.70 on TV ads ($140K), online ads ($72K) and the dreaded consultancy fees for out-of-state political shop Flexpoint Media ($38K).

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