Liberal 527 group returns to focus on Dems in House and Senate races

By Sam Youngman
The Hill

This article originally appeared at http://www.lvrj.com/news/14900836.html

The Majority Action Fund, one of George Soros's liberal 527 groups that helped Democrats retake the House in 2006, is back in action after lying dormant for the last two years.

Although Soros is sitting on the sidelines so far this cycle, the group has expanded its scope to include Senate races as it works to offset conservative groups that have upped the ante in down-ballot races while most Democrats have focused on the presidential race.

Democratic strategist Bill Buck, who is spearheading the group's efforts, said this week that because Democrats have been so concerned about taking back the White House, outside conservative groups have been able to make commitments and get involved on the congressional level without drawing much attention or pushback. "I think that's something that people are missing because everybody's looking at the presidential level," Buck told The Hill. "Part of our role will be to serve as a counterbalance."

Buck cites the growing efforts of groups like Freedom's Watch and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, both of which are poised to play heavy on the congressional level.

Buck said the primary role of the Majority Action Fund will be to highlight the voting records of Republican incumbents who they deem vulnerable.

"Our goal is to shine a bright spotlight on Republican records," Buck said.

So far this year, the Majority Action Fund has only gotten involved in Oregon, where it has proven to be an early headache for the reelection efforts of Republican Sen. Gordon Smith.

"We're gearing back up now," Buck said. "You got to start somewhere."

The campaign has run more than $250,000 in ads against Smith, targeting him over high gas prices and his support for the Bush administration's energy bill.

Those initial ads sparked a bit of a firestorm in the campaign as Smith hit back with an ad incorporating Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) and his work with Smith on raising fuel standards.

Following those ads and one asserting that Smith has supported Bush's agenda 85 percent of the time, Brooks Kochvar, Smith's campaign manager, responded with a memo warning Democratic challenger state Rep. Jeff Merkley to be wary of outside groups and explaining the response ad.

"Not only does our ad directly refute the previous attack ad -- it creates a serious credibility problem for any other special interest group looking to hit the Oregon airwaves and smear Smith's record," Kochvar wrote. "The Majority Action ad brought to light an essential point: Attacking Gordon Smith has consequences -- ones Majority Action, Jeff Merkley and the [Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee] certainly weren't ready for."

Majority Action Fund is set to get involved in as many as 10 races on both the House and Senate levels, and they are hoping to raise and spend between $2 million and $10 million.

The group is set to kick off a "big fundraising push" in the next four to six weeks, and during that time it will announce its new board members.

In 2006, board members included former Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Don Fowler and former Rep. Martin Frost (D-Texas).

Buck said the campaign is gearing up and preparing to try and spread its influence because Democratic focus has been almost entirely on the race for the White House, and House and Senate candidates could suffer as a result.

But one Republican consultant for a conservative group disputed that idea, pointing to the fundraising success the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is enjoying over its Republican counterpart.

"I don't know how you can argue that with a straight face," the GOP strategist said.

That strategist noted that the DCCC has significantly outraised the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC). Most recent cash-on-hand totals show the DCCC with $47.2 million to the NRCC's $6.7 million.

By contrast, the strategist noted, the Republican National Committee (RNC) has significantly outraised the DNC, which points to a GOP donor base focused more on the presidential race than down-ballot contests.

"Where the energy is not where it should be is at the congressional level," the strategist said.

Ed Patru, a spokesman for Freedom's Watch, said the group sees a "huge need" for involvement in congressional races.

"We see an opening to impact issue debate at the congressional level," Patru said.

Buck said there is a need to balance what conservative groups are doing to influence down-ballot races, and liberal groups are being outgunned so far.

But Buck cautioned that it's still too early to tell how much of an advantage outside conservative groups enjoy.

"It's too early to say because you haven't seen a lot of activity yet," Buck said. "I think everybody's keeping it close to the vest."

Freedom's Watch, for example, is not disclosing how much it plans to spend this year, providing for one of the cycle's biggest ongoing mysteries.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday that Freedom's Watch is launching radio ads in 16 congressional districts this week, and Patru said the group has been and will continue to get involved in Senate races as well.