Pro-Clinton 527 Group takes aim at Obama in Ohio

Submitted by czawadzki on Wed, 02/20/2008 - 1:31pm.

I bet you could see this coming.

...a group of Democratic politicos have set up a new independent 527 organization called the American Leadership Project (ALP) with the express purpose of helping Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, beat Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, in Ohio...The group is targeting through TV ads, mail, and phone communications white women under 50 in the Ohio area -- specifically Cleveland, Columbus, Youngstown, Charleston (WV), Wheeling- Steubenville, Zanesville, and Parkersburg (WV).

The ads will not mention Obama specifically but will repeat the "there is more to this than great speeches" frame that Clinton has been pushing.

Interestingly, it sounds to me like they are still in the process of raising money for these ads. Hopefully, people will not want to take part in this. I think, this strategy is probably going to hurt whomever the Democratic Candidate is in the fall more than help Hillary now. But, Hillary backing down is just wishful thinking. And of course, these ads are most likely softballs compared to what McCain will produce later in the season. Lets see how Obama keeps ahead of this stuff. So far, i think he has been performing exceptionally.

Also, if you look at the people behind the ALP, they are all consultants who will see financial gains if Clinton is the nominee. That is a little depressing huh? It seems that, It isn't their heart endorsing Clinton, it is their pocketbook. It is just business. Wasn't it this kind of consultant class attitude that contributed to the Kerry lose?

ALP is being run by

Submitted by czawadzki on Wed, 02/20/2008 - 4:32pm.

In case you didn't click on thru

ALP is being run by the following people:

Jason Kinney, of California Strategies, LLC, a former senior communications advisor and chief speechwriter to former California Governor Gray Davis;

Mattis Goldman of SeaChange Media, a former ad maker for Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, who works for . (Samples of Goldman's ads can be seen HERE).

Erick Mullen, a political consultant with lots of Capitol Hill experience who has worked for the presidential campaigns of Gen. Wesley Clark (Ret.) in 2004 and former Sen. Bill Bradley, D-NJ, in 2000, as well as the successful 1998 Senate run of Chuck Schumer. (Mullen's website is HERE).

Paul Rivera, founder of Britton Marcy, LLC, senior political adviser for the 2004 Kerry-Edwards campaign, and a Clinton- Gore White House advance staffer from 1994 through 1999.

Roger Salazar of Acosta|Salazar LLC, who worked in the Clinton White House from 1994-1999 as assistant press secretary, national spokesman for then-Sen. John Edwards' 2004 presidential race, national spokesman and deputy press secretary the 2000 presidential campaign of Al Gore, and press secretary for Gov. Davis' successful re-election.

The law firm representing the group is Remcho, Johansen & Purcell, LLC. Accounting and bookkeeping is being handled by Nancy Warren of the San Francisco-based Warren & Associates LLC.

Obama Campaign Saying ALP Violates Federal Election Law

Submitted by Jeff on Wed, 02/20/2008 - 6:13pm.

From an email:

The America Leadership Project is organized on the same model as Swift Boats Veterans for Truth and other "527s" operating outside the financing limits of federal campaign finance law. It has been established without regard to the changes in the law, made after 2004 and under court supervision, to stop this type of activity.

Under those changes, the Project should be registered with the Federal Election Commission as a regulated "political committee," and it should be complying with all the rules such committees should follow—such as limits on contributions they receive. The Project is flouting those requirements, so that it—like Swift Boats and others before it—can use six-figure checks from wealthy contributors to influence the outcome of the primaries ahead in Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania.

The law, however, provides clearly that the American Leadership Project is indeed a political committee subject to the federal financing limits. ... [A]ny 527 becomes a political committee if it (a) spends or receives more than a $1,000 in a calendar year on federal election-related purposes and (b) has an overall organizational major purpose of influence of elections. ...

Here we have a committee that springs up on the eve of an election, promotes a specific candidate, and has no history or apparent purpose of lobbying specific issues outside the benefit to the candidate of these communications. Its "major purpose" is no mystery.

Getting out in front

Submitted by czawadzki on Wed, 02/20/2008 - 6:20pm.

Way to turn this back on Hillary.

Since, the ALP was still in the fundraising stage, I imagine this kind of counter attack by Obama will hinder future donations.

MAYBE

Submitted by melanie simpson on Sat, 02/23/2008 - 10:48pm.

My understanding is that they have already started an advertising campaign in Ohio. But maybe this will hinder their efforts somewhat.

I do not like this kind of $$ being brought in - and it shows what kind of national campaign we will have if she gets the nomination. Yipes.

Also isn't this the realf Karl Rove technique - so how does Hillary dare hysterically accuse anybody. Of course I guess it is smart to accuse the other guy of tactics which you are actually using - it is like creating a distraction to get away with murder.

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