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.

In Senate races, Colorado continues to draw the most attention from independent advocacy groups. The Club for Growth and Coloradans for Economic Growth produced ads attacking the Democratic candidate, Mark Udall, while the National Education Association has an ad criticizing his opponent, Bob Schaffer.

Meanwhile, the Employee Freedom Action Committee continues to blanket Senate races around the country with ads linking Democrats to undemocratic union bosses. The organization spent nearly $600,000 in the past week, according to CMAG estimates.

-- Will Evans

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

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