A White House official said the administration is still in the process of making plans for the recess, but labor leaders and other administration allies told POLITICO that they’re gearing up to spend millions on television advertisements and grass roots organizing. And, judging by spending already reported by some of these groups, they are off to an impressive start.
“We’re going to fight the fight,” said Gerald McEntee, the president of AFSCME, the public sector workers union. McEntee said his union would send television advertisements and organizers into the districts of more than 40 wavering legislators with the goal of getting their constituents “literally incensed about the fact that they’re standing in the way of health care reform.”…
Begala predicted an unprecedented wave of spending on all sides. “August recess is going to be the greatest stimulus package for local television and radio affiliates in the last 10 years,” he said.“Everybody on every side of this is going to be advertising in the local media trying to move those members.”
Conversations with leaders on both sides, and a measure of the early activity, however, suggest that the White House will maintain its advantage in money and organization.
That spending has already begun, and its level is unprecedented, experts say, both in sheer volume and balance. According to data from the Campaign Media and Analysis Group, most of the ad spending this year has been to support initiatives pushed by Obama and his Democratic allies in Congress.
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