A liberal group is launching a $250,000 ad campaign targeting Representative Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin over his support for the war in Iran. The VoteVets Action Fund ad, which began airing Wednesday, features a Marine Corps veteran criticizing Van Orden's backing of a $200 billion Pentagon war funding push. The veteran accuses Van Orden of not caring about the domestic costs Americans face daily.

The ad campaign marks a strategic shift as Democrats see the conflict as a potential liability for Republicans in the midterm elections. Polls show more than half of voters oppose military action in Iran, with 61 percent disapproving of President Trump's handling of the conflict. Trump's approval ratings have fallen to about 39 percent during his second term, their lowest point yet.

Though the war has been ongoing for over a month, political ad spending mentioning Iran remains limited at just $620,000 total. The VoteVets campaign will run across television, radio, digital and streaming platforms, including during NCAA basketball games. The group plans to target additional Republican veterans in Congress with future ads, suggesting Democrats intend to make the war's economic impact a central midterm issue.