Senate Roundup: The Usual Attacks And A Puzzler

The campaign clock is running down, and it's tough keeping up with the new ads. Here's a new crop from Senate races -- advertisers include the American Future Fund, League of Conservation Voters, Chamber of Commerce, Freedom's Watch and Susan B. Anthony List.

Let's start with one that presents a logical challenge.

The American Future Fund released a new ad in its ongoing campaign against Democratic Senate candidate Mark Udall in Colorado. The ad implies Udall is bad on education, needs a "reality check," and then -- curiously -- urges him to support Senate bill 12.

First of all, the bill was introduced by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in February and hasn't gone anywhere since. Second, the bill's only education provision is an "enhanced charitable deducation for corporate contributions of computer equipment for educational purposes." Third and perhaps most important, Udall is a member of the House of Representatives, not the Senate. He wouldn't be able to vote for S. 12 unless he gets elected, an ambition the American Future Fund hopes to thwart. Right?

Meanwhile, the League of Conservation Voters produced an ad tying Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) to "Big Oil;" Freedom's Watch, in a rare positive ad, boosts Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) as an anti-tax crusader; and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce hits Minnesota Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken on taxes and being funny.

Franken also takes a beating in a radio ad by the Susan B. Anthony List, which supports anti-abortion Republicans. A woman calls in to the "Delusional Politician Hotline" to report an angry, foul-mouthed politician with "funny glasses" -- that would be Franken. The woman is concerned about Franken's support of abortion rights. "'Does sort of make his support of pornography make sense," says the hotline operator. The woman asks fearfully, "Is he -- serious?" The laconic operator responds: "He's a comedian, ma'am."

-- Will Evans

4:40 PM ET | 10-18-2008 | permalink

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October Bombardment, Senate Edition, Colorado Chapter

There are so many Senate ads coming out right now that we had to slice off these Colorado ads for their own post.

The American Future Fund criticizes Democratic Senate candidate Mark Udall for being out of touch and financially unresponsible. AFF blames him for "no real reform, just bickering and bailouts for billionaires," and tells him to get "a reality check."

Campaign Money Watch, on the other hand, suggests Republican Senate candidate Bob Schaffer has ethics problems by tying him to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The ad says Schaffer defended sweatshops on the Mariana Islands after taking a "luxury trip" there arranged by Abramoff's firm. Back in the '90s, the Marianas government was one of Abramoff's big clients. Here's a more detailed, nonpartisan version of events.

You can check out Campaign Money Watch's funding here. Funders of the group's charitible affiliate include George Soros' Open Society Institute. Now let's take a look at the group's leadership...

Continue reading "October Bombardment, Senate Edition, Colorado Chapter" »

4:39 PM ET | 10- 9-2008 | permalink

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Pro-Drilling Group Goes After Republican

Sometimes, even in the hyper-partisan landscape of attack ads, principles can trump party.

The American Future Fund believes in drilling (here and now). And though Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss is a Republican, and though he is up for reelection, AFF won't let him stand in the way. In what appears to be its first effort against a Republican candidate, the group is running a radio ad targeting Chambliss and Georgia's other senator for supporting the "Gang of 10" compromise with Democrats over energy legislation.

Chambliss has already taken a lot of heat from Rush Limbaugh and other conservatives for playing nice with the other side. Chambliss probably needn't worry, though -- the Cook Political Report rates the race "solid Republican."

The AFF ad says the bipartisan compromise plan will impose energy taxes, discouraging oil exploration and costing jobs. The group is running similar ads against Republican Sens. John Thune of South Dakota and Bob Corker of Tennessee (neither is up for reelection), as well as one against Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA).

-- Will Evans

3:11 PM ET | 09-18-2008 | permalink

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Group Recycles 'Drill Here, Drill Now' Slogan

The American Future Fund's new ad may not mention the Republican presidential nominee by name, but it sure echoes a McCain refrain.

The ad, which is scheduled to run on national cable for a week, promotes oil drilling as the solution to high gas prices. Set to ominous background music, it ends with this message: "Explore for energy. Right here. Right now."

That's pretty similar to McCain's new slogan: "We're going to drill here and we're going to drill now!"

But McCain can't claim credit for the catchy phrase -- he stole it from Newt Gingrich and his 527 group, American Solutions for Winning the Future. American Solutions got funding this year from Peabody Energy ($250,000) and conservative mega-donors Sheldon Adelson ($1.5 million), Carl Lindner ($400,000), and Harlan Crow ($250,000).

Gingrich, incidentally, just announced a new song for the movement, entitled "Drill Here Drill Now."

So there you go. From an outside group (American Solutions) to a presidential candidate to an outside group (American Future Fund), a rallying cry is born.

-- Will Evans

11:17 AM ET | 09-11-2008 | 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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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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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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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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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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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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