2010 Elections, Political News

The conservative American Future Fund launched TV ads in seven more House districts today, bringing them on the air in 14 districts across the U.S. The total ad buy cost $2.3 million, according to the group’s founder, bringing the 14-district ad reservation to $4 million. “AFF enters the fray where issues of national importance are most highlighted – and that’s competitive areas around the country,” AFF founder Nick Ryan said in an e-mail. “Americans are appalled at the out of control spending and spiraling debt that the Congress continues to do with reckless abandon. Our focus is to highlight these issues and encourage Americans to stand up, be heard, and get active in stopping this liberal agenda.” The new districts are Alabama’s 2nd, where Rep. Bobby Bright (D) is running for reelection; Georgia’s 8th, where Rep. Jim Marshall (D) is running for reelection; Michigan’s 1st, where state Rep. Gary McDowell and surgeon Dan Benishek are fighting to replace retiring Rep. Bart Stupak; Michigan’s 7th, where former Rep. Tim Walberg (R) is again running against Rep. Mark Schauer (D); New Jersey’s 3rd, where Rep. John Adler (D) is running for reelection; South Carolina’s 5th, where Rep. John Spratt (D) is running for reelection; and West Virginia’s 1st, where Democrat Mike Oliverio and Republican David McKinley are running to replace Rep. Alan Mollohan, who lost in the primary. All are races where one or both House campaign committees have also reserved airtime. Each ad is similar, accusing the Democrat in the race of trying to trick voters and say he supported Nancy Pelosi for Speaker. In the ad being run against Schauer, for example, the narrator ticks off his votes for health care reform and higher energy taxes. “Don’t be tricked,” the female narrator concludes. “Magic can’t change his liberal record, but this November your vote can make Mark Schauer disappear.” AFF is still on the air in South Dakota, Texas’ 17th district, Washington’s 3rd district, New Mexico’s 1st district, Arkansas’ 1st district, Indiana’s 9th district and Mississippi’s 1st district. The group just went off the air in Iowa’s 1st district, a race that neither party is targeting, and in the New Hampshire Senate race.

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American Future Fund On the Air in Seven More Districts

The National Republican Congressional Committee’s independent expenditure arm announced Sunday it is airing new TV ads in eight districts across the country. The spots are targeting six current Members of Congress and two Democratic candidates in open-seat races. Reps. Allen Boyd in Florida’s 2nd district, Chet Edwards in Texas’ 17th district, Bobby Bright in Alabama’s 2nd district, Travis W. Childers in Mississippi’s 1st district, Tom Perriello in Virginia’s 5th district and Ann Kirkpatrick Arizona’s 1st district are the Democratic Members being targeted. All except Perriello and Kirkpatrick are in the conservative Blue Dogs Coalition. The two challengers being targeted are Roy Herron , who’s running to replace retiring Rep. John Tanner (D) in Tennessee’s 8th district, and Julie Lassa , who’s running to replace retiring Rep. David Obey (D) in Wisconsin’s 7th district. Each ad similarly ties the Democrat to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and will run in a single media market in the district.

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NRCC Ties Democrats to Pelosi in New Ads

The National Republican Congressional Committee will launch a major television ad blitz in 11 Congressional districts next week, in what will be the committee’s first multi-district independent expenditure drop of the 2010 cycle. The NRCC, which is already up on the air against Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) in the South Bend market, is expanding their fall ad campaign to target Alabama’s 2nd district, Arizona’s 1st district, California’s 11th district, Florida’s 2nd district, Kentucky’s 6th district, Mississippi’s 1st district, Tennessee’s 8th district, Texas’ 17th district, Virginia’s 5th district and Wisconsin’s 7th district. According to a senior strategist with knowledge of the buys the ads are scheduled to begin as early as Sunday. The ads are part of the more than $24 million the NRCC has already said it plans to drop in 45 districts around the country. Read more about the ad buy here . View the ad that’s set to run against Rep. Ben Chandler (D-Ky.) below.

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NRCC Expands Ads to 11 Districts

McGREGOR, Texas (AP) — Rep. Chet Edwards, an imperiled Democrat deep in the heart of Republican territory, finds exiting American Legion Post No. 273 slow going. Supporters and well-wishers keep stopping him.

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Democrats fight to stay in office amid backlash

McGREGOR, Texas (AP) — Rep. Chet Edwards, an imperiled Democrat deep in the heart of Republican territory, finds exiting American Legion Post No. 273 slow going. Supporters and well-wishers keep stopping him.

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Democrats fight to stay in office amid backlash

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, the Texas Democrat who broke scholarship eligibility rules set by a black lawmakers group by awarding about $31,000 to her relatives and an aide’s children, said Wednesday she didn’t shortchange others to benefit her own family.

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Lawmaker says mistakes used to distort her image

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, the Texas Democrat who broke scholarship eligibility rules set by a black lawmakers group by awarding about $31,000 to her relatives and an aide’s children, said Wednesday she didn’t shortchange others to benefit her own family.

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Lawmaker says mistakes used to distort her image

Former Rep. Chris Bell (D) was awarded a $2 million settlement from the Republican Governors Association in the resolution of a campaign finance issue from the 2006 Texas gubernatorial race, the Houston Chronicle reported on Wednesday. A judge ruled that the RGA violated state law when it gave $1 million to Gov. Rick Perry (R) late in the race. Bell charged that the group broke state law when it didn’t reveal who donated the money. Since the group is not involved in federal races, it’s not subject to the same limits other party campaign committees are. The RGA plans to appeal spokesman Mike Schrimpf said Wednesday. “Today’s ruling is just one step in a four-year political lawsuit brought by Democrat trial lawyer and failed gubernatorial candidate Chris Bell,” Schrimpf said, according to the Chronicle. “We believe the judge ruled incorrectly and are confident we will win on appeal, which we will file immediately. Unfortunately, this junk lawsuit has gone on for four years, and to the Democratic trial lawyers’ dreams, will likely go on two or three more. The good news is that it won’t divert from our efforts to win in Texas or any other state this cycle.” Perry was originally included in the lawsuit but chose to settle with Bell for $426,000 earlier this year. Bell now works as a lawyer in Houston. He was first elected to the House in 2002 but lost his seat after a mid-decade redistricting in 2004.

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Texas: Bell Gets $2 Million in Lawsuit Against RGA

Former Rep. Chris Bell (D) was awarded a $2 million settlement from the Republican Governors Association in the resolution of a campaign finance issue from the 2006 Texas gubernatorial race, the Houston Chronicle reported on Wednesday. A judge ruled that the RGA violated state law when it gave $1 million to Gov. Rick Perry (R) late in the race. Bell charged that the group broke state law when it didn’t reveal who donated the money. Since the group is not involved in federal races, it’s not subject to the same limits other party campaign committees are. The RGA plans to appeal spokesman Mike Schrimpf said Wednesday. “Today’s ruling is just one step in a four-year political lawsuit brought by Democrat trial lawyer and failed gubernatorial candidate Chris Bell,” Schrimpf said, according to the Chronicle. “We believe the judge ruled incorrectly and are confident we will win on appeal, which we will file immediately. Unfortunately, this junk lawsuit has gone on for four years, and to the Democratic trial lawyers’ dreams, will likely go on two or three more. The good news is that it won’t divert from our efforts to win in Texas or any other state this cycle.” Perry was originally included in the lawsuit but chose to settle with Bell for $426,000 earlier this year. Bell now works as a lawyer in Houston. He was first elected to the House in 2002 but lost his seat after a mid-decade redistricting in 2004.

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Texas: Bell Gets $2 Million in Lawsuit Against RGA

Texas Rep. Chet Edwards (D) on Wednesday criticized his Republican opponent, businessman Bill Flores , for his suggestion earlier this year that the Department of Energy be eliminated. “Maybe Mr. Flores doesn’t understand what the Department of Energy does, but that is a very dangerous misunderstanding, and this proposal is one that would have serious consequences both here in Texas and across the nation,” Edwards said during a call with reporters. The 10-term Congressman gave four reasons abolishing the agency would negatively affect the district: It would cost 5,000 jobs at the Comanche Peak nuclear plant, it would lead to greater risk for nuclear terrorism, it would end the funding of research programs at Texas A&M University, and it would stop the agency’s work toward independence from foreign oil.

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Texas: Edwards Defends Department of Energy