September 9, 2008

Labor-Funded Group Targets Republican Senators

It's going to take more than this to tilt the see-saw.

As we noted last week, American Rights At Work launched an ad campaign to promote labor-backed legislation by showing workers coming together to outweigh a corporate "fat cat" on a see-saw. It was the union-funded organization's push back against business-funded campaigns to defeat the legislation and some Democratic Senate candidates to boot.

But over the last week, American Rights At Work spent only $235,000 on ads in five key states. That's less than half what the other side -- represented by the Employee Freedom Action Committee -- spent last week ($563,000). And Employee Freedom has been beating the drum for a month longer.

Like the opposition, the ads by American Rights At Work target Senate candidates -- in this case the incumbent Republicans in Oregon, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Maine and Alaska. Each ad urges the public to scold the senators for "siding with wealthy CEOs over working families."

-- Will Evans

6:40 PM ET | 09- 9-2008 | permalink

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September 3, 2008

Pushing Back On Anti-Union Ads

Remember all those ads lambasting Democrats for wanting to get rid of secret ballots in union elections? Well, here comes the pro-labor response...

The union-funded group American Rights At Work launched a national TV ad campaign this week trumpeting the Employee Free Choice Act, which supporters say will help workers join unions without corporate harassment. Detractors say it will make it harder for workers to stand up to unions.

Unlike the opposition's ads -- which skewer Democratic Senate candidates for squelching workers' rights -- the opening ad of this campaign (below) doesn't mention any candidates. But expect more pointed ads on the horizon.

American Rights At Work plans upcoming ads in -- what do you know? -- Senate battleground states: Oregon, Alaska, Louisiana, Mississippi, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Maine. According to the group, "The state-based ads will focus on educating the public on the positions of political leaders, and urging the public to call them to express their support for the legislation in the Senate." It's the perfect recipe for campaign-related ads.

-- Will Evans

8:11 PM ET | 09- 3-2008 | permalink

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Peter Overby

Peter Overby

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Will Evans

Will Evans

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