VoteVets.org Goes Into Maine Senate Race

Calling it "a massive one-week ad blitz," the liberal group VoteVets.org has gone on the air against Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). Here's the ad, which challenges Collins' role in overseeing U.S. spending in Iraq.

Collins is a moderate Republican. Her challenger, Democratic Rep. Tom Allen, has a strategy of tying her to President Bush. This ad subtly helps that effort, although it only mentions the president once.

VoteVets says the ad will run Friday through Thursday, at a cost of $200,000.

-- Peter Overby

3:30 PM ET | 08-29-2008 | permalink

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Union Federation Puts Out Radio Ads, One Million Mailers

One million pro-Obama pamphlets are scheduled to arrive in union households in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin today, courtesy of the AFL-CIO.

The labor federation's mailer introduces voters to Obama's life story, explaining that he was "raised by a single mother," "worked hard to succeed" in college and as a community organizer, and "stayed true to his values" in public office.

The AFL-CIO also released radio ads this past week criticizing Sen. John Sununu (R-NH) and praising Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA). Federation spokesman Steve Smith said that some of Sununu's votes have been "really a detriment to the cause of the middle class and the working class in this country." The AFL-CIO spent a total of $95,000 for both of the ads. Smith, on the phone from the Democratic National Convention in Denver, said, "We spend very, very little money on advertising compared to what we spend on member education and mobilization."

-- Will Evans

6:16 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink

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Liberal Group Pounds Away At MN Senator

The Alliance for a Better Minnesota has another TV ad opposing Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN). Government filings show the group spent $267,000 on the ad. We'll post the video as soon as we can get it.

UPDATE: Cardinal tells us that the ad is the same as their last one -- they just bought more air time.

The group's executive director is Denise Cardinal, who has done press for America Votes, the National Education Association and Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND). The organization's board includes Kristin Beckmann, who runs the state council of the Service Employees International Union; Ben Goldfarb, who managed Minnesota Sen. Amy Kobuchar's campaign; Ryan Greenwood of Take Action Minnesota; and Connie Lewis of the regional chapter of Planned Parenthood.

-- Will Evans

6:00 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink

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Chamber of Commerce Senate Campaign Heats Up

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce unleashed a slew of new TV ads in key Senate races this week, part of a $20 million-plus campaign to protect congressional incumbents and elect candidates who are pro-business.

Though the Chamber supports some Democrats, all of the ads this week go the other way. The only Democratic senator who seems to be in real jeopardy, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, doesn't get any TV help from the Chamber, at least in this round.

The Chamber has two new ads in New Hampshire. One of them tags Democrat Jeanne Shaheen as a "taxing machine" (it rhymes with her name). The other ad praises incumbent John Sununu, the Republican, for his record on health care.

Likewise, in Minnesota, a Chamber ad ridicules Democratic challenger Al Franken for wanting to raise taxes while not paying some of his own. Another lauds Republican incumbent Norm Coleman for "working to keep the government out of your medical decisions."

Two more ads, one supporting Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and another promoting Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR), compliment the Republicans for opposing government interference in health care. It's an interesting tack, since Democrats think health care (and government involvement therein) will be a winner for them.

Look for more Chamber ads down the road...

-- Will Evans

UPDATE: Here's the Al Franken ad...

1:35 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink

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New Wave Of Ads On Union Elections

The Employee Freedom Action Committee has rolled out a new wave of TV ads blasting Democratic Senate candidates for supporting legislation that would make it easier for unions to organize workers. The ads blame Democrats for wanting to eliminate secret ballots in union elections -- and many of them feature a photo of the candidate with his or her mouth awkwardly open.

The group -- run by the firm of Rick Berman, who heads a number of industry-funded nonprofits -- is pushing a similar message as the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace. The two groups share twin goals: defeating the Employee Free Choice Act and damaging Democratic chances to pick up Senate seats. The new ads are running in Kentucky, Oregon, Maine, Mississippi and Colorado.

On the other side, the union-backed American Rights At Work just launched a series of print and billboard ads promoting the legislation as a boon to a struggling middle class. Labor argues the measure would allow workers to choose a union without as much harassment from corporate management. The Service Employees International Union gave $250,000 to American Rights At Work in 2007.

-- Will Evans

4:47 PM ET | 08-27-2008 | permalink

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Chamber Of Commerce Boosts Dole

UPDATE: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce expects to spend well over $20 million this year to help elect pro-business candidates to Congress, according to spokesperson J.P. Fielder. He says that besides the North Carolina and Minnesota Senate races, the Chamber is supporting Republicans Bob Schaffer in Colorado, Steve Pearce in New Mexico, Roger Wicker in Mississippi, Susan Collins in Maine, as well as Democrats Mary Landrieu in Louisiana, Max Baucus in Montana and Mark Pryor in Arkansas. "The Senate is ground zero for the business community," Fielder says, adding that the Chamber doesn't get involved in presidential races.
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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is coming to the aide of Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), who faces a tightening re-election race, a bevy of ads from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Comittee and a couple of attacks from outside groups.

The Chamber is running an ad praising Dole as "a voice for family health care" and saying she voted to improve health care for seniors.

The Chamber also ran an ad earlier this month criticizing Minnesota Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken (below).

-- Will Evans

2:15 PM ET | 08-27-2008 | permalink

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Conservative Groups Rule The Past Week Of Ads

In the independent-group battle over the presidency, the anti-Obama American Issues Project is outspending liberal groups trying help Obama by more than two to one.

Over the last week, AIP spent an estimated $358,000 on 263 TV spots hammering Obama for his association with a 1960s militant, according to the Campaign Media Analysis Group. With the Obama campaign launching legal challenges, the ads aired in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia -- and American Issues Project has a lot more to spend.

On the other side, MoveOn.org spent about $133,000 to run an ad tying McCain to "Big Oil" 199 times in North Carolina. And PowerPac spent only $33,000 on 87 spots promoting Obama in New Mexico and Texas.

Still, that's not even close to the disparity in the Colorado Senate race.

Continue reading "Conservative Groups Rule The Past Week Of Ads" »

6:13 PM ET | 08-26-2008 | permalink

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Obama Goes After Conservative Group -- But Can't Find Business Filings

The Obama campaign has gone on the offensive against a multi-million dollar ad campaign by the American Issues Project, a conservative group tying the Democratic candidate to Bill Ayers, a one-time leader of the Weather Underground.

This new ad from the Obama campaign asks why John McCain is "talking about the '60s" -- a direct message that he's ignoring current problems and a subtext that he's stuck in the past.

And because this is a campaign finance issue, there's also action on the legal front. Obama's lawyer Robert Bauer has done what lawyers do -- dispatch letters, both to the Justice Department, demanding an investigation of the American Issues Project, and to stations running the ads. The letters were first reported by Politico .

In a small bit of irony, the letters from Bauer resemble an attack he mounted against the American Leadership Project, a 527 group that backed Hillary Clinton in the primaries and attacked Obama. It's ironic because ALP is now going after McCain on Obama's behalf.

Odder, perhaps, is this gap in Bauer's research, and what it shows about the inner workings of independent political operations.

In an Aug. 21 letter to station managers, Obama's attorney Bob Bauer writes, "There is no 'American Issues Project.' It is not incorporated anywhere...Its name is only a front to hide the true sponsors of this base and mendacious attack, and FCC regulations do not permit a shadowy front group to claim sponsorship of political advertising."

Apparently the Obama legal team did not look in the home state of Obama's running mate, Joe Biden. The American Issues Project does indeed exist, and Delaware, a popular spot for business incorporations, is where it's incorporated.

The story gets stranger from here. AIP was originally incorporated in May 2007 under the name Citizens for the Republic, according to Delaware filings.

Continue reading "Obama Goes After Conservative Group -- But Can't Find Business Filings" »

2:27 PM ET | 08-26-2008 | permalink

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Vets For Freedom: "I Am The Surge"

The pro-surge group Vets For Freedom said Monday that it's running a $1.1 million ad campaign with this TV spot:

"I know the surge worked. I was there. I saw Al Qaeda decimated," one veteran says.

The ad avoids the legal restraints of an overtly political message by promoting a Senate resolution expressing gratitude to American service men and women who participated in the Iraq offensive known as the surge. It urges viewers to call Barack Obama and tell him to support the resolution.

The ad was unveiled in Denver, to run during the Democratic convention. It's also going to run in Minneapolis-St. Paul for the Republican convention next week, and in the swing states of Ohio, Michigan, Virginia and Colorado, according to VFF.

Vets For Freedom has been among the most active conservative groups on TV.

-- Peter Overby

12:39 PM ET | 08-26-2008 | permalink

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Conservatives Go After Embattled Republican Congressman

Republican Don Young, Alaska's congressman for nearly 36 years, has come under attack by three conservative groups.

He's under investigation on corruption allegations. His leading opponent, Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, has been endorsed by Gov. Sarah Palin.

Such help as he's getting is coming from Democrats.

First, the attacks, which all play off the Justice Department investigation and Young's reputation for extravagant earmarking of federal budget dollars.

The Club For Growth PAC has this ad on Alaska TV, calling Young "just another Washington politician."

The PAC says it's also running radio ads and a telephone campaign against Young.

The congressman, never known for letting an attack go unanswered, complained to the Federal Election Commission that the "Club for Lack of Growth in Alaska," as he calls it, violated election law. CFG PAC brushed him off with another swipe at his record.

Continue reading "Conservatives Go After Embattled Republican Congressman" »

7:30 PM ET | 08-25-2008 | permalink

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Pro-Clinton Group Finds New Target: McCain

A 527 group that backed Hillary Clinton and attacked Barack Obama in the Democratic primaries now pivots to target Republican John McCain.

The American Leadership Project (not to be confused with the newly visible anti-Obama group American Issues Project, or for that matter, the American Project on Leadership and Issues or the Project on Issues and American Leadership, both of which we just made up) is running a radio ad that sums up McCain's energy policy as "more money for Big Oil, more problems for us." It criticizes McCain's support for offshore drilling and tax breaks for oil companies.

English and Spanish versions of the ad are running in Colorado during the Democratic National Convention this week.

During the primaries, the group's pro-Clinton and anti-Obama ads were funded primarily by labor unions such as the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees ($2.2 million); the American Federation of Teachers ($400,000); and the International Union of Painters ($250,000), among others. The biggest individual donor was S. Daniel Abraham, the founder of Slim-Fast and a long-time Clinton supporter, who gave $100,000.

The group's president, political consultant Roger Salazar, previously was a spokesman for President Clinton, former California Gov. Gray Davis, and John Edwards' 2004 primary campaign.

During the primaries, the Obama campaign accused the group of violating election laws. Obama's campaign finance counsel compared ALP to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth -- just about the worst thing one Democrat could say about another. But now, all may be forgiven. ALP's Web site urges voters to call Obama and "tell him to keep fighting for the issues that matter to the middle class," almost exactly what the American Leadership Project said of Clinton in its primary ads.

How times have changed.

-- Daniella De Franco and Will Evans

1:31 PM ET | 08-25-2008 | permalink

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Clinton Backers Threaten Split With Party

The Denver Group, a political action committee led by Hillary Clinton activist Heidi Li Feldman, aired a TV ad last night demanding a roll call vote to determine the Democratic Party's nominee at next week's national convention in Denver.

The ad shows the Declaration of Independence and suggests that Hillary Clinton supporters could leave the Democratic Party if "democratic principles are not upheld." It ends threatening that, without a roll call vote to pick the party's candidate, "come November the Democratic Party could face a revolution."

-- Will Evans

4:38 PM ET | 08-23-2008 | permalink

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Swift Boats Revisited Part 2 -- The Money

The new ad that links Barack Obama to a one-time 1960s militant turns out to be funded by one man, someone who's spent plenty of time and money playing in the political sandbox.

Harold Simmons, CEO of the Contran Corp. of Dallas, put up all of the $2.8 million to buy airtime for the ad in Michigan and Ohio, and paid to produce the ad as well. Christian Pinkston, a spokesman for the American Issues Project, said Simmons' name was the only one listed on a disclosure report filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Add this to a long list of political contributions made by Simmons and his company -- a list topped by, you guessed it, $3 million to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth in 2004.

At first glance, Simmons' beneficiaries look like birds of a conservative feather: the three GOP national party committees, GOPAC, Republican Governors Association, the 501c4 group Progress for America from '04 and too many congressional Republicans to list here.

Then it gets more interesting. This year, Simmons maxed out with $2,300 contributions to four of the Republican presidential primary hopefuls: Rudolph Giuliani, Mitt Romney, Duncan Hunter and John McCain.

And more interesting still: two grand to a Democratic presidential candidate, Bill Richardson.

It's even possible -- we'll know soon enough -- that Simmons might be supporting the running mate of the candidate he's now attacking. Back in May 2007, he gave $2,300 to Chet Edwards (D-TX), now said to be on the shortlist of Obama vice-presidential possibilities.

-- Peter Overby

6:40 PM ET | 08-22-2008 | permalink

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Pinch-Hitting For The Party

An unusual number of conservative groups this week put up attack ads in Senate races around the country. Among them: the American Future Fund, Americans for Prosperity, Freedom's Watch, and two anti-union organizations.

Now comes confirmation of the puzzle's missing piece. These independent ads are running just when Senate Republicans can't afford to do hit pieces of their own.

John Ensign of Nevada, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, blames other Republican senators. He didn't name names, but issued this statement Friday morning:

I recently challenged my colleagues to step up to the plate and help me provide the resources our candidates need to compete in races across the country -- to match the DSCC [Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee] expenditures in targeted races. It has become clear that my call has gone largely unanswered. I have no control over the timing or content of IE ads, but I have had no choice but to decrease the total budget of our IE Unit. It is still my hope that my Republican colleagues will engage in this election and help match what the Democrats are doing. If they do, I will adjust our budget accordingly.

Both the NRSC and its House counterpart are hurting this year, compared to the Democratic Hill committees. June 30 cash-on-hand figures were $24.6 million for the NRSC, $46.2 million for the DSCC.

When Ensign refers to "independent expenditures," he's talking about one of the more bizarre arrangements created by the campaign finance system. But it's also the legal vehicle for the national parties to run attack ads and be only semi-accountable for them.

A party committee (say, the NRSC) puts together an independent-expenditure team, gives them some millions of dollars and -- literally -- sends them across town to set up shop. Anything the IE team does is legal, provided there's no coordination with the NRSC mothership.

But if there's not enough money for that, as Ensign now says, the NRSC has to depend on the kindness of, well, not quite strangers, but outsiders.

-- Peter Overby

6:29 PM ET | 08-22-2008 | permalink

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Praise For The Republican, Criticism For The Democrat

The American Future Fund has two new radio pieces out, one smacking Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and the other backing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

The Reid ad targets the Democrat for opposing legislation it says will lower gas prices, and the other ad promotes McConnell for supporting the legislation.

-- Will Evans

The Reid Ad:

Continue reading "Praise For The Republican, Criticism For The Democrat" »

4:33 PM ET | 08-22-2008 | permalink

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New Anti-Obama Ad -- Swift Boats Revisited?

A previously unknown conservative 501c4 group, the American Issues Project, announced Thursday that it's running this ad through Aug. 29 in Michigan and Ohio.

The ad ties Barack Obama to Bill Ayers, who was a member of the Weather Underground in the 1960s, a fugitive from the FBI in the 1970s, and is now a neighbor of Obama's in Hyde Park.

To skittish Democrats, this looks and sounds a lot like the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ad that undermined Democratic nominee John Kerry's credibility as a Vietnam War hero. The first Swift Boat ad ran at the start of the Democratic convention four years ago; this year's convention starts Monday. That ad was financed by a few wealthy conservatives. Some of AIP's donors will have to be identified, but with the group's tax status, most of them can remain anonymous.

The Obama campaign seems to be thinking Swift Boat too. Unlike Kerry, who was disastrously slow to react, it had a six-page rebuttal out to reporters before the ad hit the airwaves.

Continue reading "New Anti-Obama Ad -- Swift Boats Revisited?" »

6:22 PM ET | 08-21-2008 | permalink

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Anti-Poverty Campaign Features Candidates' Wives, Or At Least Their Voices

A nonpartisan campaign to fight global poverty and disease has a new TV ad featuring actor Matt Damon speaking with many voices.

The ad by the ONE Campaign shows Damon talking, but substitutes the voices of many others, including the presidential candidates' wives, Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain. Together, the voices urge Americans of all political stripes to come together as, well, "ONE," in order to help save lives.

The ad is set to debut on national television on Aug. 24.

Continue reading "Anti-Poverty Campaign Features Candidates' Wives, Or At Least Their Voices" »

1:47 PM ET | 08-21-2008 | permalink

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CO Dem Can't Get Relief From American Future Fund

Outside groups just can't get enough of the Colorado Senate race.

Just one week after the American Future Fund went after Democratic candidate Mark Udall for opposing oil exploration, it has a new TV ad today attacking Udall's changed position supporting some new drilling. The ad says the bipartisan compromise plan Udall backs would impose "crippling regulations" on offshore drilling and would "raise taxes that consumers could pay."

-- Will Evans

1:27 PM ET | 08-21-2008 | permalink

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Obama Links McCain To Controversial Conservative In New Attack Ad

Finding a new appetitite for attack ads, the Obama campaign is capitalizing on Ralph Reed's efforts to raise money for McCain. The former director of the Christian Coalition solicited contributions for a recent McCain fundraiser, raising eyebrows because of Reed's involvement with the notorious lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Now, the Obama campaign has produced a hard-hitting TV ad blaming McCain for failing to call Reed to testify in the Abramoff affair. The ad ties that decision to Reed's recent generosity and concludes, "For 26 years in Washington, John McCain's played the same old games. We just can't afford more of the same."

The ad is set to run in Georgia tomorrow, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Says McCain spokesman Brian Rogers, "Barack Obama's ad is ridiculous. Because of John McCain, corruption was exposed and people like Jack Abramoff went to jail."

Rogers added: "However, if Barack Obama wants to have a discussion about truly questionable associations, let's start with his relationship with the unrepentant terrorist William Ayers, at whose home Obama's political career was reportedly launched."

And the attack game continues.

-- Will Evans

7:19 PM ET | 08-20-2008 | permalink

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Group Ties MN Senator To "Big Oil"

Alliance for a Better Minnesota, part of the Progress Now network of liberal advocacy groups, has a new ad today condemning Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) for giving tax breaks to oil companies, while accepting contributions from "Big Oil."

On June 30th, the Alliance received $250,000 from the Fund for America, a now-defunct 527 group tied to top Democratic operatives.

-- Daniella De Franco

2:43 PM ET | 08-20-2008 | permalink

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American Future Fund Comes To New Hampshire

American Future Fund put out a new ad today adding to the noise around former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen's challenge to Sen. John Sununu (R-NH). The ad dings Shaheen, a Democrat, for opposing offshore drilling and praises Sununu for his energy policy positions. It was produced by the firm of AFF's media consultant, Larry McCarthy, who produced the controversial "Willie Horton ad" of the 1988 presidential election.

-- Will Evans

2:15 PM ET | 08-20-2008 | permalink

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New Hampshire Race Attracts Another Outside Group

Americans for Prosperity released a new radio spot last week criticizing former New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen for her energy plan, including her opposition to offshore drilling. Shaheen, a Democrat, is currently running for Senate.

Americans for Prosperity is spending $122,000 on the ad, according to a recent Federal Election Commission filing. The group -- which has received financial backing from conservative billionaire and former Libertarian vice presidential candidate David Koch -- promotes free market policies, lower taxes and limited government spending.

-- Daniella De Franco

1:52 PM ET | 08-20-2008 | permalink

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VoteVets Blasts CO Republican On Veteran Issues

VoteVets launched a new TV ad in Denver and Colorado Springs targeting Republican Senate candidate Bob Schaffer. The ad features Iraq veterans from Colorado accusing Schaffer of helping an oil company profit in Iraq. It also criticizes his votes on veterans issues.

-- Daniella De Franco

1:15 PM ET | 08-20-2008 | permalink

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Pro-Obama Group Defends Unusual Names

PowerPac, the San Francisco advocacy organization that promoted Obama during the primaries, has a new ad boosting the presidential candidate. The ad, which also comes in a Spanish version, says, "Barack Obama believes it shouldn't matter if you look different, it shouldn't matter if your name is unsusual..."

Now that the campaigns themselves have gone negative, could PowerPac -- with its pro-Obama rather than anti-McCain ad -- actually improve the reputation of outside groups?

-- Will Evans

12:44 PM ET | 08-20-2008 | permalink

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MoveOn Aims For Two Birds With One Stone

MoveOn.org's latest ad goes after Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) for their associations with the oil industry. The ad accuses McCain and Dole of being "in the pocket of Big Oil" for accepting contributions from oil companies and allowing the industry to reap tax breaks. MoveOn is expected to begin airing the ad this week.

-- Daniella De Franco

5:46 PM ET | 08-19-2008 | permalink

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Here's A Switch: Tarred For Taking Environmentalist Money

When Freedom's Watch ran an ad accusing Rep. Nick Lampson (D-TX) of "politics as usual," the group's line of attack was anything but usual.

Unlike a barrage of ads from independent advocacy groups attacking Republicans for accepting contributions from "Big Oil," Freedom's Watch accuses Lampson of taking donations from an environmentalist group -- or rather, "a liberal special interest group that favors high gas prices." The group at issue was the Sierra Club. The ad ran over the last two weeks.

-- Daniella De Franco

5:29 PM ET | 08-19-2008 | permalink

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For Democrats: How To Kneecap McCain

Democrats are in agony over the question of how -- or for some, even whether -- to run attack ads against John McCain.

Even Barack Obama is starting to mix it up, after campaign management told its fundraising team in the spring that it wouldn't tolerate their involvement with any Swift-Boat style ads targeting the Republican nominee.

But there's a boatload of difference between, say, Obama's issue-oriented "How Can McCain Fix The Economy?" ad and what consultant Jim Vega proposes in The Democratic Strategist.

Here's the not-so-pretty nut of it: Trash McCain's character the same way Karl Rove and other conservatives trashed John Kerry's four years ago. As Vega puts it:

...McCain is actually profoundly vulnerable to a powerful, aggressive and damaging attack on his character. McCain's actions in recent weeks have provided compelling evidence for three genuinely disturbing propositions about his character, core values and integrity.

1. That John McCain has become desperate to win this election and is willing to sacrifice his deepest principles and his personal honor in order to do it.

2. That the John McCain we see today is only a pale, diminished shadow of the man he once was in his early years.

3. That John McCain is allowing men he once despised and held in complete contempt to manipulate him and tell him what to do -- to literally put words in his mouth and tell him what to say.

At first glance these statements are so strong that they sound almost defamatory. But each is supported by McCain's recent actions ... and they fit together into a single coherent narrative of ambition overcoming integrity and moral character.

Vega is a strategic marketing consultant who keeps an extremely low profile while writing regularly for The Democratic Strategist.

Makes us want to start a pool: How long till the first ad adopting this approach?

-- Peter Overby

5:05 PM ET | 08-19-2008 | permalink

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Freedom's Watch Hits Colorado Democrat Again

Freedom's Watch began running a new television ad today that lambasts Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) for skipping a vote on whether to adjourn Congress before discussion of an energy bill. Set to the tune of "Skip to My Lou," the ad is a follow-up to Freedom's Watch's similarly themed ad from last week. According to the group, the new ad will run statewide in Colorado this week.

-- Daniella De Franco

4:12 PM ET | 08-19-2008 | permalink

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Senate Races Burst With Negative Ads

If you want attack ads by independent groups, Senate races are where it's at right now.

In the presidential race, it seems that independent groups left the back-and-forth bashing to the candidates themselves over the last week. But some Senate races are humming with negative ads.

Colorado's hot open-seat between former Rep. Bob Schaffer (R) and current Rep. Mark Udall (D) has attracted five ads from different groups this week. Conservatives have the edge with three anti-Udall ads (538 spots on the air) versus two anti-Schaffer ads (241 spots on the air), according to the Campaign Media Analysis Group.

The New Mexico Senate race is also getting attention, with one ad against Rep. Steve Pearce (R) and another attacking Democrat Tom Udall (D). (The Udalls, by the way, are cousins.) Two business-backed groups -- Employee Freedom Action Committee and Coalition for a Democratic Workplace -- are hitting a slew of Senate races with what they hope will be a wedge issue to hurt Democrats: secret ballots in union elections. On the other side, the Service Employees International Union is running ads against vulnerable Republican incumbents John Sununu (NH) and Gordon Smith (OR).

All in all, independent groups spent about $1.9 million on Senate races in the last week, according to CMAG. And no one is pulling punches.

-- Will Evans

1:49 PM ET | 08-19-2008 | permalink

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Film Company Coordinates With AFL-CIO On Anti-McCain Message

A new, would-be-viral Web video slamming McCain for his many upscale houses is a result of some joint brainstorming by the AFL-CIO and an activist film production company called Brave New Films.

The liberal film company released the video, called "McCain's Mansions," to the YouTube masses yesterday (below). It portrays McCain as the "The Real Elitist," citing his multiple houses, fancy shoes and estimated net worth -- all of which were also highlighted in an AFL-CIO mailer sent out last week.

"Working with the AFL-CIO, we coordinated with them on what the message was behind the video. We timed it deliberately to come out around their mail piece," said Brave New Films communications director Leighton Woodhouse. "We're in agreement with them that this is the right message to drive at this particular time in our effort to sort of define the candidate. Someone who's that affluent...is out of touch with struggles that ordinary Americans are going through."

Brave New Films is working with both the AFL-CIO and Service Employees International Union to blast the video to union members.

Continue reading "Film Company Coordinates With AFL-CIO On Anti-McCain Message" »

11:16 AM ET | 08-19-2008 | permalink

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Pro-Huckabee Group Is Back

Common Sense Issues, the group that aggressively promoted Republican Mike Huckabee as a presidential candidate, is back in the mix -- in North Dakota.

In its first time on the air since the presidential primaries, the group began a radio ad yesterday ripping Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) for receiving a favorable Countrywide loan on his beach house in Delaware.

Sen. Conrad isn't up for re-election till 2012, but as the group's executive director Patrick Davis tells us, "Common Sense Issues plays for the long term."

Continue reading "Pro-Huckabee Group Is Back " »

10:27 AM ET | 08-19-2008 | permalink

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AFL-CIO Mailer Hits McCain On Wealth, Fancy Shoes

The AFL-CIO sent out its latest of several election-related mailers to 50,000 union households last week, targeting McCain on Social Security. The mailer, which cites McCain's net worth, multiple houses and alleged $520 shoes, went to union retirees in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan, according to a union federation spokesperson. The AFL-CIO expects to continue sending it out to even larger numbers of voters.

Next page of the mailer after the jump...

Continue reading "AFL-CIO Mailer Hits McCain On Wealth, Fancy Shoes" »

3:54 PM ET | 08-18-2008 | permalink

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Ralph Reed Doesn't Want A Job On McCain's Campaign

UPDATE: Associated Press reports that McCain raised $1.75 million at the Atlanta fundraiser. Just before the event began, Reed's spokeswoman said he was planning to attend "as far as I know." But he apparently did not.

So says the consultant/lobbyist/former director of the Christian Coalition. But he did send out an email soliciting contributions of $2,300 to $20,000 for a McCain presidential fundraiser this evening in Atlanta.

This wouldn't be so surprising if it weren't for the backstory on McCain and Reed.

When McCain first ran for president in the 2000 Republican primaries, Christian conservative leaders did their best to sink him. It was the kind of campaign that's run completely off-the-books. McCain, outraged, called them agents of intolerance.

McCain spent the next few years passing a big campaign finance reform bill. Then he began investigating lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who later pleaded guilty to defrauding Indian tribes out of millions of dollars in lobby and consulting fees. For some of those projects, Abramoff hired Reed, who had left the Christian Coalition and needed business for his new consulting firm.

In 2005, McCain held a hearing that delved into the Reed connections -- but he didn't call Reed to testify.

Continue reading "Ralph Reed Doesn't Want A Job On McCain's Campaign" »

3:51 PM ET | 08-18-2008 | permalink

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Club Finds Multiple Problems With Senate Candidate

The Club for Growth hammers Rep. Tom Udall (D-NM) on a host of hot-button issues in a new ad launched today. The ad criticizes Udall, New Mexico's Democratic Senate candidate, for opposing offshore oil-drilling, while supporting eminent domain and the estate tax.

The ad weaves it all together this way: "For Tom Udall, if it's private property, take it; if it dies, tax it; but if it's American oil, leave it in the ground. Tell liberal Tom Udall that American freedom comes from American resources."

Meanwhile, in July the Club for Growth's 527 took in $250,000 from Rex Sinquefield of the Show-Me Institute and $95,000 from Robert Levy of the Cato Institute, among other donations.

-- Will Evans

7:19 PM ET | 08-15-2008 | permalink

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Union Raises Concern About Foreign Investment -- And McCain

Radio ads by the Service Employees International Union are trying to tie John McCain to the issue of foreign governments investing in American companies.

The ads raise national security concerns about foreign-controlled investment funds joining with private equity funds to invest in U.S. firms. Each of the ads -- which will continue airing next week in Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Virginia, Alabama and Michigan -- end with this message: "Call Sen. McCain at 202-224-2235 and tell him we have a right to know when foreign countries buy into American companies vital to our economic prosperity and national defense."

The ads don't specify why McCain is named, but Anastasia Christman, a coordinator for SEIU's private equity campaign, says SEIU is targeting the presidential candidate partly because private equity titan Henry Kravis is a top McCain fundraiser. "It's important as people are assessing him as a presidential candidate that we know that he even understands that this situation is going on and whether he accepts it," she says.

-- Will Evans

6:30 PM ET | 08-15-2008 | permalink

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New Ads Target Democratic Louisiana Senator

Two ideologically opposed groups ran ads this week taking on Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), according to recent filings with the Federal Election Commission.

They Work For Us, a liberal advocacy organization that pressures Democrats to support populist economic policies, spent $117,000 on a radio ad called "Check the Facts." The group did not return phone calls asking about the nature of the ad. It is run by a board including Democratic operative Steve Rosenthal, MoveOn.org executive director Eli Pariser, Service Employees International Union official Anna Burger, and liberal blogger Markos Moulitsas Zuniga.

Seperately, the Louisiana Conservative Action Network spent $87,000 on an ad targeting Landrieu called "One Vote Away." The Network was incorporated this year by John Diez Jr., a political consultant who has worked for the Republican National Committee. Diez also ran the Louisiana Committee for a Republican Majority, which focused on electing Republicans to the state legislature. Diez did not immediately return phone calls.

-- Will Evans

3:49 PM ET | 08-15-2008 | permalink

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New Union-Funded 527 Blasts CO Republican

A new 527 organization funded by labor unions ran its first TV advertisement this week blasting Colorado Republican Senate candidate Bob Schaffer for ties to "Big Oil."

The Colorado First Project, formed in May, has taken in $250,000 from the Service Employees International Union and $100,000 from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

The group's president is a Colorado yoga teacher, Allyson Levine, and its attorney is Mark Grueskin, who was hired by the Democratic National Convention Committee as counsel for the Denver convention. The group doesn't have a Web site and is trying to operate with a low profile.

"The decision's been made that the ads speak for themselves," says Grueskin. "Unlike a lot of political groups that need to puff themselves in them media, this is a group that decided not to do that."

Continue reading "New Union-Funded 527 Blasts CO Republican" »

1:24 PM ET | 08-15-2008 | permalink

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Religious Group Promotes Obama

The Matthew 25 Network, a political action committee promoting Obama to other Christians, is airing its first TV ad tomorrow, during a televised forum in which Obama and McCain will answer questions from a Southern California pastor.

The pro-Obama Network says this is "the first time active clergy have recorded a television ad for a Democratic Presidential Candidate." Watch the ad below.

-- Will Evans

Continue reading "Religious Group Promotes Obama" »

12:32 PM ET | 08-15-2008 | permalink

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Group Blames Colorado Democrat For Gas Prices

The American Future Fund announced a new TV ad today criticizing Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) for supporting policies that keep gas prices high and urging him to vote for offshore oil drilling. Udall is Colorado's Democratic candidate for Senate.

-- Will Evans

6:40 PM ET | 08-14-2008 | permalink

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Attack Ad Veteran Teams With Attack Book Author

Jerome Corsi may be getting all the attention right now for his anti-Obama attack book, but there's another veteran political operative who has been toiling away to take down the Democratic candidate with a Swift-Boat-style campaign. And now, the two are working together.

Floyd Brown, whose most famous effort was the "Willie Horton ad" that damaged Democrat Michael Dukakis' presidential campaign in 1988, has been working on a viral campaign to send anti-Obama videos to millions of voters. His main organization, the National Campaign Fund, runs the Web site ExposeObama.com, which features videos linking Obama to gang violence and questioning Obama's assertion that he's never been a Muslim (below).

(The Obama campaign's "Fight the Smears" Web site has a special entry for Brown.)

Brown, in an interview today, says he has two more upcoming videos based on a collaboration with Corsi, co-author of the book that launched the crippling Swift Boat veterans critique of Democrat John Kerry in 2004. The new ads are based on Corsi's new book, "The Obama Nation."

Continue reading "Attack Ad Veteran Teams With Attack Book Author" »

4:53 PM ET | 08-14-2008 | permalink

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Teachers Union Drops Ad On Colorado Senate Race

The National Education Association, the largest teachers union, is one of several independent groups jumping into the Colorado Senate race, which is considered a toss-up by the Cook Political Report. This NEA ad has been running since Aug. 5, criticizing Republican candidate Bob Schaffer for being in the pocket of "special interests," such as the oil industry and supporters of school vouchers.

-- Will Evans

3:55 PM ET | 08-14-2008 | permalink

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Conservative Group Hits Republican In AK Primary

The Club for Growth hits beleaguered Rep. Don Young (R-AK) with this ad accusing him of pushing for an earmark that would benefit an out-of-state campaign contributor. Young is currently under federal investigation for corruption, including scrutiny of the Florida earmark cited by the ad. Club for Growth has endorsed Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, who is challenging Young in the Republican primary. The ad buy, which starts today, will cost $350,000, according to the group.

-- Daniella De Franco

3:26 PM ET | 08-13-2008 | permalink

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Union Weighs In On Oregon Senate Race

The Service Employees International Union produced this ad tying Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) to President Bush, criticizing him for supporting tax breaks for oil and drug companies and wealthy Americans. The ad starts running in Oregon today.

-- Daniella De Franco

2:28 PM ET | 08-13-2008 | permalink

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SEIU Targets New Hampshire Republican

The Service Employees International Union launched this ad today criticizing Sen. John Sununu (R-NH) for accepting contributions from pharmaceutical companies. It accuses him of protecting HMO interests by voting against lower drug prices. SEIU says it will spend $600,000 to air the ad.

-- Daniella De Franco

1:57 PM ET | 08-13-2008 | permalink

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Senate Majority Leader Draws Fire For Energy Stance

The American Future Fund ran this ad in Nevada and Washington, D.C. criticizing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) for opposing oil exploration in Alaska and off the coasts. The ad aired in July.

-- Will Evans and Daniella De Franco

8:57 PM ET | 08-12-2008 | permalink

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Radio Ad Praises NC Republican

Americans for Prosperity has this ad praising Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) for her plan to lift the ban on offshore oil exploration. The group said Aug. 7 that it would spend $150,000 on the ad.

-- Will Evans and Daniella De Franco

8:36 PM ET | 08-12-2008 | permalink

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Freedom's Watch Dings CO Democrat

Freedom's Watch produced this ad criticizing Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) for missing a vote on whether Congress could adjourn before handling an energy bill. Udall is running for Senate.

-- Will Evans

7:50 PM ET | 08-12-2008 | permalink

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MoveOn.org Leaning On "Volunteer Army," Not Just Ads

MoveOn.org may not like the Iraq war, but apparently it's not averse to using some military tactics of its own.

In an email to supporters today, the organization asks for money to help "build a volunteer army to make sure voters in swing states don't buy McCain's lies."

It sounds like activist boot camp:

We'll recruit and train many thousands more volunteers in swing neighborhoods nationwide. We'll prepare to reach out to persuadable voters. A team of top-notch volunteers will give extra support and encouragement when the going gets tough.

And the cost for these brigades? Only $300,000, according to the funding plea. Not bad, considering MoveOn spent almost that much on TV ads in the last week alone.

-- Will Evans

7:41 PM ET | 08-12-2008 | permalink

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Group Criticizes CO Candidate For Energy Votes

The American Future Fund is running this radio ad criticizing Colorado's Democratic Senate candidate Mark Udall for voting against increased oil exploration. The ad launched on July 30th.

-- Will Evans and Daniella De Franco

7:19 PM ET | 08-12-2008 | permalink

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MoveOn.org And Texas Oilman Dominate

When it comes to independent ads targeting presidential candidates, MoveOn.org has had the airwaves to itself for the past week, according to the latest numbers from the Campaign Media Analysis Group.

Spending about $260,000 on ads criticizing McCain and boosting Obama, MoveOn didn't face competition on the airwaves from conservative groups like Vets For Freedom, Let Freedom Ring and Citizens United, which ended their string of ads at the end of July.

Overall, though, it was Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens who spent the most on ads in the last week: about $1.3 million to promote his wind power plan. Pickens has spent an estimated $8.6 million since July 8th.

Continue reading "MoveOn.org And Texas Oilman Dominate" »

5:28 PM ET | 08-12-2008 | permalink

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MoveOn Keeps Hammering McCain

MoveOn.org airs this ad calling calling McCain's offshore drilling proposal an ineffective "gimmick." Starting Aug. 5th, it ran in Michigan, North Carolina and on cable.

-- Will Evans

3:42 PM ET | 08-12-2008 | permalink

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Majority Action Ties Dole to "Big Oil"

Majority Action aired this ad criticizing Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) for taking campaign contributions from oil companies and voting to give tax breaks to the industry. The ad started running Aug. 7th.

-- Will Evans

1:54 PM ET | 08-12-2008 | permalink

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Former Swift Boat Donor Finds New Target

Mark Udall, meet Bob Perry.

Udall, a Democratic member of Congress from Colorado, is running for Senate this year in a race that is attracting out-of-state money from all sides.

Perry, a Texas developer, gave $4.4 million to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth to help defeat John Kerry in 2004. FEC reports reveal that the Texan dropped $400,000 this month to air an ad criticizing Udall for "wasteful" spending.

Perry gave the money to the Club for Growth. The group said in a press release that the ad will be up for 2 weeks.

Watch the ad:

--Will Evans

4:52 PM ET | 08-11-2008 | permalink

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Whether Obama Wants It Or Not

Though Barack Obama has asked his supporters to refrain from giving to outside political groups, one advocacy organization is going to help whether he wants it or not.

Politico reports today that PowerPac.org plans to spend $10 million on voter registration efforts aimed at minority communities "to capitalize on Obama's momentum to benefit progressive causes and candidates around the country."

Here's an old PowerPac.org ad from the primaries:

So where does the money come from? Since PowerPac.org is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, it doesn't have to disclose any donor information.

But there are some clues...

Continue reading "Whether Obama Wants It Or Not" »

4:23 PM ET | 08-11-2008 | permalink

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If You Can't Join 'Em, Beat 'Em?

At least that's the strategy for a new liberal 501c4, Accountable America.

Tom Matzzie, formerly Washington director for MoveOn.org, today announced the group and its strategy: to scare off big donors who might contribute to Swift Boat-style attack ads against Barack Obama.

It's a flip from four years ago, when liberals threw big bucks into attack ads of their own. With all that cash, they still couldn't undo the damage that the initially low-budgeted Swift Boat Veterans for Truth did to John Kerry.

Now, Obama doesn't want any high-spending groups freelancing on his behalf. With donors thus discouraged, Matzzie has a new approach... and it's laid out in the jump, along with some perspective.

Continue reading "If You Can't Join 'Em, Beat 'Em?" »

6:12 PM ET | 08- 8-2008 | permalink

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Anti-Union Ad Comes to Maine

The pro-business Coalition for a Democratic Workplace brings its tough-talking ad against a union-backed Senate bill to the Portland, ME, market.

The ad stars Vince Curatola. Sopranos fans will recognize him as Johnny Sack, a New York mobster who operated out of a construction company. For CDW, he dons a lavender tie and black suit, as a union boss who fears incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R) but thinks he could work nicely with challenger Tom Allen (D).

Stereotype or cartoon? Your call. CDW likes the image well enough to run Johnny Sack in five other states with embattled Republican incumbents, and on the CDW website as well.

As for the Employee Free Choice Act, the bill in question: It would make it easier for unions to organize workplaces. Labor says corporate America has had a free hand to intimidate workers during the Bush administration, and this would level the playing field.

CDW members -- and the list of businesses and trade associations is a long one -- say it's a question of protecting the secret ballot in organizing elections, as it is on any election day.

-- Peter Overby

3:25 PM ET | 08- 8-2008 | permalink

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Welcome...

First things first: We don't actually have any secret money. That Benjamin in the picture was a prop, and they made us give it back.

Now, if you're still with us.... This website comes with an explanation, but there are no Terms & Conditions and you don't have to click "I Accept". We also have a tantalizing yet high-minded plea for help.

That said, here's the short version of what we're about: Political money can be sorted into three piles -- the candidates' cash, the parties' and everything else.

This "everything else" money is what we're looking at, where it comes from and how it's used in the presidential and Senate races. Outside groups have more financial freedom, and more secrecy, than the candidates or parties, and their combined spending will easily reach into nine figures.

The Secret Money Project is a joint undertaking of NPR and the Center for Investigative Reporting. Your reporters are Peter Overby, NPR's Power, Money and Influence Correspondent (yes, that's really the job title), and Will Evans, money-and-politics reporter for CIR.

So if you're interested in schemes to kneecap the opposition, strategies to sway voters without revealing where the financing came from, and sophisticated network-building on the Left and Right, welcome. We hope the project throws a little light on the "everything else" side of the '08 campaign.

-- Peter Overby

10:45 AM ET | 08- 8-2008 | permalink

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Frequently Asked Questions About 'The Secret Money Project'

What is the Secret Money Project?
The Secret Money Project is a joint investigation by NPR and the Center for Investigative Reporting, tracking the hidden cash in this election cycle.

But what do you mean by 'hidden cash?'
Well, remember the Swift Boat ad four years ago? This independently produced ad crippled Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

And, this year's crop of independent ads has the potential to be equally influential, powerful and possibly damaging. With changes in political strategies and campaign law, these groups could be more important than ever.

These groups don't have to disclose their donors and spending the same way the candidates do. Some don't have to disclose at all, hence "secret money."

What is the purpose of the blog?
This blog will feature independent ads that air in specific markets across the country (swing states, anyone?) and will allow you (the blog reader) to see the types of messages that your fellow voters do in other states.

Hopefully, by seeing the ads through this birds-eye view, we'll notice any patterns that may emerge -- either through the types of themes explored in the ads, or the places that the groups chose to air them.

Of course, the blog will also feature news and analysis from NPR's Peter Overby, who covers power, money and influence. His reporter-in-crime, Will Evans of the Center for Investigative Reporting, will also contribute.

Can I contribute to this project?
Glad you asked -- yes.

Contact us if you hear from any independent groups.
Tell us what group contacted you. How did they do it? Mail? E-mail? Ringing your doorbell? A phone call? What was the message? And which race did the ad focus on -- Presidential? Senate? House? To clarify: We're tracking outside groups -- not candidates or political parties -- just independent groups such as MoveOn.org, AARP and unions, to name a few.

What about comments on the blog?
Comment away! But we do have a few rules -- just check out our guidelines for comments.

You can also interact with The Secret Money Project through Twitter, a micro-blogging service. The project's updates can be found under the Twitter name nprsecretmoney.

Can I link to this blog and project?
Please do!

3:38 PM ET | 08- 5-2008 | permalink

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Discussion Guidelines for 'The Secret Money Project'

We want your feedback, comments, and discussion. Just keep it clean. Basically, don't say anything Ken Rudin wouldn't say. Here are a few, somewhat obvious, rules to keep in mind:

No slander or name calling.

Don't write anything threatening, harassing, sexist, or racist.

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What you post should be your own work. You can link to, quote, and paraphrase someone else with proper attribution, but don't copy and paste willy-nilly.

Don't ramble (too much). We understand the allure of long, healthy political rant. But we reserve the right to edit comments for brevity.

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If you have complaints about NPR coverage or general policies, don't use the blog to voice them. Instead, please contact the NPR ombudsman. To contact an NPR program or any of our business and technical departments, use the NPR Contact Form.

If you want to know even more information about what is and isn't allowed on NPR.org, please see our very official Terms of Use page.

With all that said, we will sometimes disagree. That's OK. We're talking about politics, after all. There's a reason why mom used to say never talk about religion or politics at the dinner table. That probably means you shouldn't blog at the dinner table either.

3:30 PM ET | 08- 5-2008 | permalink

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Group Uses Union Issue to Target Democrats

The Employee Freedom Action Committee, which goes by different names in each state, is airing ads targeting Democratic Senators and Senate candidates on the issue of secret ballots in union elections. The ad is running in the following locations under these names:

KY: Kentuckians for Employee Freedom, targeting Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford
LA: Lousianans for Employee Freedom, targeting Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
ME: Mainers for Employee Freedom, targeting Rep. Tom Allen (D-ME)
MS: Mississippians for Employee Freedom, targeting former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove
NH: Granite Staters for Employee Freedom, targeting former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen
OR: Oregonians for Employee Freedom, targeting state Speaker of the House Jeff Merkley

The ad below is adapted to name the Democratic Senate candidate in each state.

UPDATE:
The same ad, targeting Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO), began airing Aug. 13 under the name Coloradans for Employee Freedom.

-- Will Evans

2:15 AM ET | 08- 1-2008 | permalink

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Pickens Plan Step One

Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens explains the first part of his plan to end U.S. dependence on foreign oil: harness wind power to supply 20 percent of the nation's electricity. The ad ran in Illinois, Kencky, Texas, Wisconsin and on cable.

-- Will Evans

12:25 AM ET | 08- 1-2008 | permalink

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