Hotline On Call

Former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert is launching a major television ad blitz in the month leading up to the May 29 Senate primary in an effort to catapult himself into a runoff for the GOP nomination. Leppert's campaign will spend close to $2 million running spots on broadcast stations across Texas in May, according to a source close to the Leppert campaign.

Leppert has already purchased close to $1 million worth of broadcast time for the month, according to a source who tracks GOP ad buys. Leppert's ads will run on broadcast in most of the state's major markets, including Dallas, San Antonio and Austin. Leppert will also run ads statewide on cable throughout the month.

The sizable buy puts pressure on former state Solicitor Gen. Ted Cruz, whose TV ads have been limited to cable stations up to this point.

If Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, the frontrunner for the GOP nomination, fails to receive a majority of votes in the Republican primary, he will square off with the second place finisher in a June runoff. Cruz is the favorite to finish second, but Leppert's campaign is attempting to narrow the gap with the major TV buy.

Leppert released a radio ad Monday featuring former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman.