Liberal healthcare group launches pro-Obama ads

Healthcare for America Now, a union-backed liberal health reform advocacy group, is making a $4.3 million ad buy in support of Barack Obama and other Democratic candidates.

Over the next two weeks, the organization will run ads on TV and radio attacking Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and seven GOP congressional candidates for their views on healthcare.

{mosads}The anti-McCain ad will run in Ohio, a battleground state that recent polls show is tipping to the Democratic nominee, Sen. Obama (Ill.).

Echoing talking points used by Obama and his campaign, the ads claim that McCain’s health reform plan would cause 20 million people to lose employer-sponsored health insurance because of changes he would make to how those benefits are taxed.

McCain flatly denies this charge, arguing that employers will continue to offer coverage as part of workers’ compensation packages and that his plan merely provides people the opportunity to seek insurance elsewhere with a tax credit.

Similar ads will air in the states and districts of four incumbent Republican lawmakers: Sen. John Sununu (N.H.) and Reps. Ric Keller (Fla.), Randy Kuhl (N.Y.) and Tim Walberg (Mich.).

In addition, the group is airing ads against three candidates seeking to fill House seats being vacated by members not seeking reelection: Blaine Luetkemeyer, who is running to replace Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R-Mo.), Marty Ozinga, who is running to replace Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.), and Erik Paulsen, who is running to replace Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.).

On top of the multimillion-dollar advertising buy, Healthcare for America Now will spend $500,000 on direct mail and telephone campaigning.

Earlier this week, Obama and Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden endorsed Healthcare for America Now, joining more than 75 other Democratic lawmakers to back the group, which seeks a larger role for the federal government in the healthcare system and stricter regulation of the health insurance industry.

Healthcare America Now is funded by labor unions and other liberal groups, such as the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the Service Employees International Union, the Center for American Progress Action Fund, MoveOn.org and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.