Left’s cash crushing right

Democratic voter enthusiasm, which has fueled their candidates’ presidential campaigns, has also stuffed the coffers of liberal groups that will spend tens of millions of dollars to swing the November elections.

Left-wing fundraising is crushing the efforts of their counterparts on the right.

{mosads}“Conservatives are completely outmanned, outnumbered and out-financed,” said David Bossie, president of Citizens United, one of the few conservative groups that has announced plans to spend millions this fall. “We have to work harder.”

Bossie ticked off a list of pro-Democratic groups such as MoveOn.org and the Center for American Progress: “They’ve put together an incredible operation to try and win the White House back.”

Liberal groups such as these are preparing to shift to general-election campaign mode as Democrats finish a grueling five-month primary season.

The protracted battle between Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) has split the party along lines of race and class, but groups funded by labor unions, trial lawyers and environmentalists have kept a singular focus: winning the White House and expanding the Democratic majorities in Congress.

Major Democratic allies such as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the AFL-CIO are planning to spend record amounts to elect Democrats to Congress and the White House.

• The SEIU will spend $85 million this election cycle, more than it has during any similar two-year period in history, said spokeswoman Stephanie Mueller.

• The AFL-CIO has budgeted $53.4 million for political activity this cycle, a $5 million increase over 2004. Political director Karen Ackerman said the “huge program” will become engaged in 510 races, ranging from the presidential to local elections.

• MoveOn.org will raise and spend about $35 million in restricted federal contributions known as hard money, according to executive director Eli Pariser.

• Americans United for Change has spent $3 million on national advertising. It has also aired more than 60 ads in congressional districts so far this cycle.  

• The Sierra Club has organized 450 groups across the country and claims to have 5,000 volunteers spread across 10 battleground states including Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Virginia.

• The League of Conservation Voters plans to spend between $7.5 million and $9 million, mostly on congressional races.

• NARAL Pro-Choice America has budgeted $10 million for the presidential and congressional races.
• America Votes, a coalition that emerged in the 2004 presidential election, will help coordinate the political activities of pro-Democratic groups.

{mospagebreak}Of the 10 independent groups that have spent the most this year on television advertising in the presidential campaign, eight are liberal, according to a new report by the Wisconsin Advertising Project, a nonpartisan academic study.

“If you look at the state of the progressive movement versus the conservative movement, it’s clear the progressives have a robust, healthy movement with a number of organizations that all play important roles,” said Pariser of MoveOn.org, which will spend most of its resources on the presidential race.

“Compared to the progressives, there’s a lot of dissent and dissatisfaction in the conservative ranks.”

{mosads}Jeffrey Lerner, the political director of Change to Win, a coalition of powerful unions including SEIU and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, said labor strategists are excited to campaign for Obama as the Democratic nominee.

“What we’re doing now is mov[ing] from primary mode to general-election mode and deciding what states we’re going to play in,” he said. “We’re going to do an aggressive mail and phone program and we’re going to have an aggressive worksite program.”  

Many Republicans had expected a new group, Freedom’s Watch, to emerge as a powerful force on the conservative side, but it now appears those expectations will not be fulfilled. Freedom’s Watch has disavowed published reports that it would spend more than $200 million and has been roiled by staff turnover and infighting.  

Republicans also expect support from traditional allies such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Right to Life Committee and the National Rifle Association (NRA).

• The NRA expects to spend between $20 million and $30 million in the presidential and congressional races. The pro-gun rights advocacy group will run television, radio and print ads, hold rallies, send mailings and run phone banks “in just about every congressional race,” said Andrew Arulanandam, director of public affairs.

• A spokesman for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said the group would be “very active in states where we can have an impact” but would not divulge its budget. One Democratic party official said he expects the trade association to spend nearly $60 million.

• Citizens United, a conservative group that is finishing up work on a critical documentary about Obama, will spend about $10 million this election cycle. The group is giving contributions to conservative candidates through its political action committee and producing television issue advertising through its 501(c)4 advocacy wing.

• Freedom’s Watch has spent about $1.1 million in three House special elections in Louisiana, Mississippi and Ohio. Spokesman Ed Patru declined to say how much the group will spend, but dismissed earlier reports that it would spend more than $200 million.

• The Club for Growth has spent $560,000 to air 1,000 ads in the presidential race this year, according to the Wisconsin Advertising Project. Democrats estimate the group spent about $100,000 on the special election in Louisiana. Spokeswoman Nachama Soloveichik said the group’s spending would depend on many factors.

Groups classified under section 527 of the tax code are expected to play a diminished role compared to 2004 because of changes to election law. The Federal Election Commission fined groups such as America Coming Together, the Media Fund and Swift Boat Veterans for Truth after the last presidential election. The commission also issued stricter rules affecting 527 fundraising.  

Labor unions and advocacy groups such as the Sierra Club and the NRA are expected to spend more on television ads in the final months of the campaign because the Supreme Court eased restrictions on issue ads that mention candidates’ names within 60 days of a general election.