Washington (CNN) -- The National Republican Senatorial Committee pushed its first TV spot in a $1 million ad campaign in South Dakota to attack the Republican nominee's top two opponents in what has become a competitive three-way race for the seat. The 30-second spot, which hit South Dakota airwaves Tuesday, links Democratic opponent Rick Weiland and Republican-turned-Independent former Sen. Larry Pressler as holding the same positions on gun laws, energy and Obamacare and comes less than a week after Democrats announced their own $1 million campaign to attack Republican nominee former Gov. Mike Rounds. Republicans also deployed two political operatives to South Dakota to boost Rounds' campaign operation.
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The GOP launched its first of $1 million in TV ad days after Democrats announced a similar buy.
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The spot ties the leading independent and Democratic candidates to each other.
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The DSCC's $1 million investment will go to attacking GOP hopeful Mike Rounds.
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By the end of the ad, both balloons have deflated because "when it comes to looking out for @placeholder, they both fall flat."
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But some also suggest that the @placeholder, which has a bigger war chest than their Republican counterparts, could be trying to thin the NRSC's resources in a state where they likely would not have otherwise pumped cash.