New GOP group to target Barack Obama in ad campaign

The Republican National Committee has spun off its own independent expenditure committee and plans an initial $3 million ad buy targeting Barack Obama in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, Politico reports.

Why the separate group?

Brad Todd, who will run the effort, blamed Obama in a statement to Politico:

"Following Barack Obama's decision to become the only major party presidential candidate in history to not adhere to campaign spending caps, the Republican National Committee has begun an independent expenditure campaign in accordance with FEC regulations."

Under federal law there are no limits on how much the group can spend, though it cannot coordinate efforts with John McCain's campaign or the RNC. Still, both have helped to raise some of the funds that will launch the new effort.

So now we know where the RNC will be funneling some of its cash advantage over the Democratic National Committee to try to compensate for the record-breaking fundraising Obama has enjoyed. And the decision to target those Rust-Belt states underscores the GOP view that Obama is vulnerable in that part of the nation. Three of the four -- Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin -- went Democratic in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections.

Lot of white working-class men and women in those states, which account for 68 electoral votes.

-- Scott Martelle

Comments

[PacificGatePost]

OBAMA’S ARTISTRY OF THE AMBIGUOUS - It is not his lack of experience that will work against him.

Obama would be well served by his hired help if it could move him to specifics on numerous critical fronts.

Voters are looking for definitive action while they battle overwhelming increases in costs on all fronts.

http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/06/obamas-artistry-of-ambiguous.html

[Rdoney Lamprey, jr.]

This is the same RNC that hosted the illegal covert e-mail system for the Bush administration illegal activities? Yeah, sure, there will be no coordination with McCain's campaign...

[sd-mouth]

The real question is whether the Republican slime machine launches another Swift Boat campaign. Even though Karl Rove resigned, he will probably be instrumental in trying to destroy any Obama images with distortions and lies. He is a master at it and with Texas oil cartel money, will be well funded again. Look what he inserted into the White House for 8 years.

[bigcynic]

It's a good thing Obama doesn't have any combat experience for this latest bunch of swiftboaters to lie about. But maybe they can make something up about having ties to the House of Saud or the bin Laden family -- only Republicans can get away with that!

[Skye54]

So, the RNC and/or an "independent group" will spend $3m "targeting" Obama. Gee, what a great way to spend money. Three million dollars of hate. Yes, that's exactly what I would do if I had that money. The Republicans want John McCain to be president? And they plan to prove he is a better candidate than Obama by taking $3m and "targeting" Obama? What a waste of money, time, effort. What a joke. Why don't these horrible people take that money and benefit others? THAT would be a way to show that they're "better" (yeah, well, that' won't ever happen -- will it?).

[Sam]

Just an Opinion
Republicans can spend all they want and lie all they want - but I believe that historically, always if the economy is bad, the other party gets in - Advantage Obama. But Americans are suckers for lies and Republicans have been great at that - Advantage McCain. Obama and McCain both have liabilities - Obama's race and McCain's flip-flopping and support of the war - Draw. Some wealthy people stand to lose a lot if the war comes to an end so must be scared and very interested in stopping Obama. Because of this pile of money at stake, I'm sure that this race getting ugly is a huge understatement. This is domestic war - Draw. But I think Obama is pretty smart and quite possibly have more money. Advantage Obama. Just an opinion.

[nzer]

yes Skye. or why don't they at least spend the ad money on extolling the virtues of John McCain... oh I know: it's a hell of a lot easier to make Obama look bad than to make McCain look good.

[ohno]

Considering the mean-spiritedness of the Obama/Axelrod-led campaign, I would say that the Democrats have more than earned their "swift boating chevrons" with their race baiting, Hillary bashing, pejorative ageism towards McCain, etc.

I dearly anticipate and look forward to savoring any Republican payback they might muster.

[VJ Machiavelli]

The GOP IS FIGHTING "FIRE" with "FIRE"

BTW I believe the Democ"rat"ic campaign committees have all the "BUCKS"

VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com
ps.This election is all about shoes, yes shoes do we keep them on or do we take them off and never put them on again when we board a plane. it's that simple. On shoes or off shoes

[Ron M]

Mr Obama is hard to categorize. The National Journal calls him the most liberal but he was against the Supreme Court ban on death penalty for child rape. The citizens would be better off if they listened to the candidates as well as campaign adds. Obama clearly is not a liberal, he is an independent. His guiding motivation seems to be fairness rather than partisanship. It's hard to be sure I'm right in a partisan campaign. But if I am, he should make a great president and this country could sure that after what we have been through.

[jon]

This is a smart move by RNC. They will atleast bring out the lies and radical ties of Obama in light for Americans. Obama just talks about what People wants to hear in each situation and thats about it. He has no record infact his record is negative with Rezko, 20 years Pastor Wright, No so proud Wife.. Auchi , Khalidi, Radical pastor Hilfiger, Sharpton, Jackson... List grows day by day.

I liked this idea of seperate group to negate the Obama's cash advantage that he gained by flip flopping on Campaign finance reform.

I also expect obama paid volunteers to jump on this comment and spit out "racial" and other stuff that they have been doing for all who dislike their stealth candidate.. but doesn;t make a difference in my life :).

[Aalaf Alot]

You know Republicans or Republican Latchkey group will attack Obama. It will get worst and it from both sides!
You have Obama wanting to fixed the USA. McCain want to continue on the current destructive path.

Some of you think more moderate McCain going to fixed the country. It will not happen. He will be force to comply with the GWB guard. He will be force to comply with Neocons.
He will be force to comply with the Ultra Right-Wing Christian Conservatives.

[Johnny]

The RNC has no choice but to run hate ads and try and diminish Obamas rock star image. Its clear McCain is getting crushed right now so we are going to see a lot of this. Same affective campaign. Next up from the right... install fear in Americans...

No worries... even those who loathe Obama don't want to see George W Bush's 3rd term. McCain doesn't stand a chance.

[kara]

Sure the Repugs are going to use a swift boat approach and attack those state Obama showed vulnerability in and as a Dem who will vote for Obama, I don't blame them That's the name of the game and that's where Obama is weakest. Obama could go a long way by putting Hillary on the ticket to offset that, but he won't. I believe his presidential candidacy will win or lose based on if he can keep those states. He is trying now going around flag waving and apple-pieing but I don't think that's enough. My family is from Michigan and I think he has a problem there.

[Tim_CA]

Skye54 writes...."So, the RNC and/or an "independent group" will spend $3m "targeting" Obama. Gee, what a great way to spend money. Three million dollars of hate." What a waste of money, time, effort. What a joke. Why don't these horrible people take that money and benefit others? THAT would be a way to show that they're "better" (yeah, well, that' won't ever happen -- will it?)."

What a dope you are sir. Your empty suit Messiah has raised over $300 million over the last year-and-a-half (source - New York Times). Gee, I wonder how much of that $300M he he'll use to "Benefit others" you hypocritical partisan moron....bet that won't happen either!!

[DoTheMath]

"Following Barack Obama's decision to become the only major party presidential candidate in history to not adhere to campaign spending caps, the Republican National Committee has begun an independent expenditure campaign in accordance with FEC regulations."

Oh, so the RNC is raising money to attack Obama only because Obama opted out of public financing? Yeah, right.

Notice how they're not even actually saying that's why they're doing it, only implying it by saying their actions are "following" his.

Expect a lot more of that type of reasoning from these folks. The fact that one event happens before another doesn't mean the first event CAUSED the second.

[Michell O.]

WELL!!!!! now that the democrat's slime machine has lied,cheated and stolen the primary nomination away from Hillary Clinton, I pray that the republicans use their so called swift/boat campaign on deserving Barack Hussein Obama. Finally, tell the real truth about his religion and gang of ganster friends. I will donate money to the republican campaign to help prove he is not fit to be president, and that he and his anti- american friends are a danger to this country.

[What's his face ?]

We have to counter the spiritual pestilence coming out of
moove on org, the ACLU and other decadent liberal groups. We certainly cant count on the msm to present
the disturbing facts on this imposter.

[hinnis]

OBAMA Goes Back On Promise and Becomes First Presidential Candidate Since RICHARD NIXON to refuse a public financing.

Obama - November 27, 2007: I have been a longtime advocate for public financing of campaigns combined with free television and radio time as a way to reduce the influence of moneyed special interests. I introduced public financing legislation in the Illinois State Senate, and am the only 2008 candidate to have sponsored Senator Russ Feingold's (D-Wis.) bill to reform the presidential public financing system. In February 2007, I proposed a novel way to preserve the strength of the public financing system in the 2008 election. My plan requires both major party candidates to agree on a fundraising truce, return excess money from donors, and stay within the public financing system for the general election. My proposal followed announcements by some presidential candidates that they would forgo public financing so they could raise unlimited funds in the general election. The Federal Election Commission ruled the proposal legal, and SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN, R-ARIZ., HAS ALREADY PLEDGED TO ACCEPT THIS FUNDRAISING PLEDGE. If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election.

Obama - June 19, 2008: It's not an easy decision, and especially because I support a robust system of public financing of elections. But the public financing of presidential elections as it exists today is broken, and we face opponents who've become masters at gaming this broken system. John McCain's campaign and the Republican National Committee are fueled by contributions from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs. And we've already seen that he's not going to stop the smears and attacks from his allies running so-called 527 groups, who will spend millions and millions of dollars in unlimited donations.

WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE OBAMA’S PROMISE 7 MONTHS AGO? Nothing, except that he can generate more money from his bundlers and naïve Internet supporters, than if he abided by his promise. Regarding 527s, by the end of last year federal 527 groups aligned with Republicans had raised $20 million, compared to $55 million by groups aligned with Democrats, according to a report from the Campaign Finance Institute.