Will Dubya ask GOP's 527 Progress for America Voter Fund to Disband?

[flpoljunkie]

New York Times reports today they have raised over $35 million dollars to run ads. Note their chief counsel, the ubiquitous Ben Ginsberg!

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/25/politics/campaign/25money.html?pagewanted=1

By GLEN JUSTICE

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 - A day after President Bush called for an end to campaign spending by independent groups, one such Republican organization said on Tuesday that it had raised $35 million to counter Democratic attacks on television and hoped to wage a $125 million advertising campaign through Election Day.

The organization, the Progress for America Voter Fund, is the first Republican group to announce that it had raised a substantial amount of money to compete with Democratic-leaning groups that have collected tens of millions of dollars to attack the Bush-Cheney campaign on television.

Others may be poised to follow.

"We don't disagree with the president's take," the president of the group, Brian McCabe, said. "But we can't unilaterally disarm. There is extensive activity by the liberals, and we still need to counter them and level the playing field."

http://www.opensecrets.org/527s/527events.asp?orgid=6

Progress for America, 2004 Election Cycle
Formed: February 2001 |

Republican group that plans to raise tens of millions of dollars for issue-advocacy efforts, particularly TV ads, in support of GOP candidates. Will form "issue truth squads" that respond to Democratic attacks on President Bush. Seen as the Republican equivalent of The Media Fund, which aims to raise close to $100 million for pro-Democratic issue ads.

 Affiliated Personnel:
Ken Adelman, chairman (former director of arms control and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President Reagan)

Tony Feather, founder (political director, Bush-Cheney '00, and a close ally of Karl Rove)

Ben Ginsberg, chief counsel (chief outside counsel for Bush-Cheney '04)

Chris LaCivita, executive director (former issue-advocacy director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee)

Donors:
Sig Rogich, one of President Bush's fundraising Pioneers and former ambassador to Iceland under President Reagan

  Budget:
Fundraising goal is $40-$60 million