Americans United Targets Six House Republicans

Americans United, a prominent progressive organization, begins this campaign just as Democratic leaders sit down with President Bush to discuss contentious legislation to fund the war.

According to a source close to the group, Americans United is targeting Republican Reps. Mary Bono of California, Dean Heller of Nevada, Tim Johnson of Illinois, Randy Kuhl of New York, Jim Walsh of New York and Heather Wilson of New Mexico. Each of the six could face a difficult reelection challenge if the war persists.

The ads come at a critical time in the showdown between Bush and congressional Democrats over the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. The first ads will air Tuesday, a day before Democratic leaders are scheduled to sit down with the president at the White House to discuss the emergency spending bill for the war.

Each of the six Republicans voted against the initial version of that legislation, which Democrats muscled through the House last month. But Johnson and Walsh were among the 17 Republicans who backed a symbolic measure earlier this year opposing Bush’s plan to send more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq – making them likely targets for Democratic leaders hoping to peel off GOP votes as this debate plays out.

Next week’s ad campaign is expected to be sizable, if not overwhelming, according to the same source. The group is expected to spend “several hundred” thousand dollars to air the ads, running approximately 500 gross ratings point in each market.

According to a script from the ad targeting Wilson - who faces other trouble stemming from the controversy surrounding eight fired U.S. attorneys - the ad begins with President Bush’s now-infamous “Mission Accomplished” speech from the deck of an aircraft carrier when he declared, “Major combat operations in Iraq have ended.”

His speech is followed by a montage of chaos on the ground in Iraq, including footage of a roadside bomb exploding a Humvee.

Wilson is then shown appearing with Bush as the announcer says, “Heather Wilson is still voting with the President on Iraq” followed by a reference to her vote against the supplemental spending bill to fund the war.

“Tell Heather Wilson, after four years, it’s time to end the war,” the ad concludes.