NRA ad campaign urges Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation

Nicole Gaudiano | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Who is Brett Kavanaugh? 5 things you should know He’s up for a seat on our highest court. Here's what you need to know about Brett Kavanaugh.

WASHINGTON – The National Rifle Association has launched a seven-figure national and regional ad campaign, urging confirmation of President Donald Trump's pick for the Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh.

The five regional spots target senators who are considered potential swing votes: Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska., Doug Jones, D-Ala., Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D.

“The NRA strongly supports Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court because he will protect our constitutional right to keep and bear arms,” said Chris W. Cox, the NRA's top lobbyist. “It’s critical that all pro-Second Amendment voters urge their senators to confirm Judge Kavanaugh.”

Gun control groups say Kavanaugh's views on the Second Amendment are extreme and aligned with the gun lobby.

Kavanaugh has been a reliable conservative vote on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In 2011, he sought to strike down the District of Columbia's gun registration requirement and ban on semi-automatic rifles.

The NRA ad says Trump nominated Kavanaugh to break the tie between four "liberal" justices who "oppose your right to self-defense" and four justices who support that right.

"Your right to self-defense depends on this vote," a narrator says in the national ad.

The ads will begin airing Tuesday on national cable and regional broadcasts and the campaign will run through Aug. 27.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to begin confirmation hearings for Kavanaugh next month.

More: Senate Democratic leaders to begin meeting with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh