WATCH: Phoenix Seeing $400K Blitz Of "Dear World" Ad Because Rep. Gosar's Boycotting Pope Over Climate Change; Democratic Reps. Grijalva, Gallego Join Effort

Last Friday, Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar (R-CD4) announced that he was leading a boycott of Pope

Francis' speech to a joint session of Congress (Thursday).  Later that day, NextGen Climate Action signed contracts to air an ad in Phoenix countering Gosar and touting the Pope's comments on climate change.

Yesterday, Democratic Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-CD3) and Ruben Gallego (D-CD7) teamed up with NextGen to semi-gently chide Gosar to listen to the Pope.

The ad buy does not mention Gosar (or anyone else), and is titled "Dear World". The script is a collection of quotes from the papal encyclical about climate change.

NextGen press secretary Suzanne Henkels tells Arizona's Politics* that they want to "ensur(e) that (Gosar's) constituents will hear the Pope’s powerful message on climate change", and NextGen increased the broadcast and digital buy to more than $400,000.

The ad was not originally planned to air on Phoenix TV stations - only on national cable, in Washington, D.C. and in five states.

NextGen issued a press release yesterday with comments from billionaire founder Tom Steyer, and Democratic Reps. Grijalva and Gallego. Only Steyer named Gosar.  Grijalva stated that "Unfortunately, Congressional Republicans continue to turn a blind eye to the need for increased sustainable energy, reduced carbon emissions and the development of new green technologies." And, Gallego added "I hope his message resonates with politicians on both sides of the aisle."

*Full comment from Henkels to Arizona's Politics: "On Friday, Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar announced that he plans to boycott Pope Francis’ upcoming address to the U.S. Congress. While Congressman Gosar may not want to hear Pope Francis’ call to action on climate change, Americans are looking to the Pope for leadership on this critical issue. NextGen Climate is ensuring his constituents will hear the Pope’s powerful message on climate change by running our new ad, “Dear World” in Gosar’s congressional district. We’re calling on Gosar’s constituents to reach out to their Congressman and encourage him to listen to the pope’s urgent call to action on climate change."

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