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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Religion, Politics Mix In Two Ad Campaigns

Update 09/17/08: Read Catholics United's latest tax return here.

Two political religious groups have launched dueling ad campaigns, one attacking Obama and the other McCain.

The Republican Jewish Coalition -- which recently sparked quite a brouhaha with anti-Obama polls -- is running ads in Jewish newspapers that say, "Concerned about Barack Obama? You should be." Oddly, a spokeswoman wouldn't say which newspapers. The most recent ad calls Obama's views on Israel "dangerous." The RJC has ties to many Republican leaders; at the 2004 convention it held a lavish reception honoring Tom DeLay (R-TX), then the House majority leader. One RJC board member is Washington lobbyist Wayne Berman, who's also a national finance committee co-chair for McCain.

Meanwhile, an advocacy group called Catholics United plans to run TV ads, starting Sept. 19, saying that McCain isn't truly pro-life. The ads, targeted to Catholic neighborhoods in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan, faults McCain for voting against expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program and for supporting the Iraq war. It features a self-described pro-life mother saying, "Sen. McCain, when will you start defending all human life, without exception?"

More information on both groups, after the jump...

Continue reading "Religion, Politics Mix In Two Ad Campaigns" »

4:59 PM ET | 09-17-2008 | permalink

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