WP: Pro-Alito Ads Target Two (red-state) Senate Dems

[DeepModem Mom]

"The Fix," by Chris Cillizza
Posted at 06:23 PM ET, 01/19/2006
Pro-Alito Ads Target Two Senate Dems


Seeking to capitalize on what they believe was Democrats' poor performance during last week's confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Samuel A. Alito Jr., a conservative soft-money group is launching television ads against South Dakota Sen. Tim Johnson and North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad this week designed to sway the two lawmakers' votes on the nominee and also soften them up for their future reelection races.

The ads, which are being funded by Coalition for Fair Judiciary, will run statewide in both Dakotas and cost the group "six figures" combined, according to Keith Appell, a spokesman for the group. The coalition is a 501(c)(4) group, meaning that it does not need to disclose either its sources of funding or disbursements. Appell's firm -- Creative Response Concepts -- handled the public relations for the Swift Boat Veterans For Truth ads against John Kerry in 2004.

"The strategy of the pro-Alito coalition all along has been to emphasize to red state Democrats that you can either stand with the rest of America or stand with Ted Kennedy," said Appell.

Democrats retort that both Johnson and Conrad voted to confirm John Roberts as Supreme Court chief justice, a vote that gives both men "running room" on Alito, according to one Democratic Party strategist.

The ad targeting Johnson and Conrad was still in production as The Fix went to press with this post, but the content was expected to feature a number of editorial board endorsements for Alito's confirmation followed by a question of whether the two senators stand with their constituents or with Kennedy -- the liberal lion as beloved among Democratic loyalists as he is disdained by the Republican base. Neither Democrat has announced where he stands on Alito's confirmation but both represent states that went overwhelming for President Bush in 2004....


http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/thefix/

[Mithras61]

1. The "Coalition for Fair Judiciary should be called...

"The coalition to get Alito confirmed" because it looks like they've never been heard of before the Alito hearings (a whole 25 hits in Google and all of them related to the Alito nomination).

[Innocent Smith]

2. I've been seeing some pro-Alito ads

I'm in California - every so often I'll see an ad - think I've had CNN on at the time. Don't remember the name of the group running it, but their name shows up prominently at the end of the ad. Haven't seen any anti-Alito ads yet. Are they running anywhere?

[mom cat]

3. This tells you that the Republicans KNOW that it is not a done deal!

Keep fighting.

[Ignacio Upton]

4. Why are they running ads against Kent Conrad and Tim Johnson

Conrad has only one credible opponent who is not running, that is John Hoeven. Johnson isn't even up for re-election this year. It's also nice to see the Swifties back in their bullshit :sarcasm:

"Appell's firm -- Creative Response Concepts -- handled the public relations for the Swift Boat Veterans For Truth ads against John Kerry in 2004."