GOP launches ads attacking stimulus

The National Republican Congressional Committee has launched the first wave of ads in the 2010 cycle targeting 30 vulnerable Democrats who supported the economic stimulus package.

The ads accuse the representatives in GOP-leaning districts of backing frivolous spending and highlight funding in the House-passed bill that would prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, aid smoking cessation and fund the National Endowment for the Arts.

{mosads}Members targeted could have voted for the Republican alternative, the ads indicate, suggesting the GOP version would have created twice the 3.5 million new jobs Democrats say their package creates, and at just half the cost.

“After running on a platform of fiscal responsibility, [Rep.] Zack Space (D-Ohio) now has the obligation to explain why he’s willing to pile even more mountains of debt onto our grandchildren without regard for how middle-class families’ hard-earned tax dollars will be spent,” NRCC communications director Ken Spain said in a statement directed at Ohio voters.

Along with Space, Republicans are targeting several veteran Democrats who have had little trouble winning reelection, including Reps. Charlie Melancon (La.), Chet Edwards (Texas), Bart Gordon (Tenn.) and Ike Skelton (Mo.).

More vulnerable Democratic freshmen, like Reps. Kathy Dahlkemper (Pa.), Glenn Nye (Va.), Larry Kissell (N.C.) and Betsy Markey (Colo.) will also hear the ads when they return home for the week-long recess, when the ads are set to begin running.

A GOP source called the radio campaign a significant advertising buy. Though radio buys are relatively inexpensive, the GOP is beginning its ad campaigns much earlier than it has in the previous two cycles, when the party lost more than 50 seats.