CAMPAIGN-2014Updated: Fri 10/17/14 7:23 a.m.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia Republican Senate candidate Ed Gillespie is temporarily ditching television ads in the state with less than three weeks before Election Day. Records posted on federal websites show Gillespie canceling or sharply reducing ad buys in multiple markets this week. A Gillespie campaign spokesman said Thursday that the campaign will launch a new $300,000 ad buy statewide starting on Saturday. Polls show Gillespie trailing his first-term Democratic rival, Sen. Mark Warner, who is blanketing the state with ads. Gillespie is the former chairman of the Republican National Committee and one of its best fund raisers.

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Original post: Thu 10/16/14 11:41 a.m.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia Republican Senate candidate Ed Gillespie is ditching television ads in the state with less than three weeks before Election Day.  Records posted on federal websites show Gillespie canceling or sharply reducing ad buys in multiple markets. Political operatives who track television advertising told the Associated Press Thursday that Gillespie does not have ads reserved in the final push to Nov. 4’s elections.  Gillespie on Thursday declined to comment specifically on the cancellations. But he said his campaign will have enough resources to finish the race.  Polls show Gillespie trailing his first-term Democratic rival, Sen. Mark Warner.  Gillespie is the former chairman of the Republican National Committee and one of its best fund raisers.