SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) _ A coalition of labor groups is suspending its advertising campaign on behalf of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown after spending $8.6 million over the summer.

Officials with California Working Families for Jerry Brown said Wednesday they have accomplished their goal. That was ensuring that Brown did not lose ground in the polls over the summer while Republican candidate Meg Whitman ran her own aggressive ad campaign.

Whitman, a billionaire, has spent $104 million of her own money so far. Polls show the candidates statistically tied.

Bob Balgenorth, president of the State Building & Construction Trades Council of California, says labor groups were concerned that Brown’s absence on the airwaves would leave him far behind Whitman.

Brown has said his campaign will ramp up starting with the Labor Day weekend.