Anti-War Ads To Run In Maine And New Hampshire

Americans United for Change, one of the liberal groups opposing the Iraq War, just announced that it would launch new TV ads in Maine and New Hampshire targeting GOP Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and John Sununu (N.H.) for their support for President Bush's handling of the conflict.

Brad Woodhouse, director of Americans United, just announced the new ad campaign, which will last for a week to 10 days, and cost over $200,000 combined. Americans United has just run a similar ad buy in Kentucky focusing on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.),

Woodhouse told reporters the ads were designed "to cut the shallow threads of support" that Bush still has on Iraq. Collins and Sununu last week voted against a Senate Democratic proposal to set a "goal" for withdrawing most U.S. combat troops from Iraq by March 31, 2008.

Collins and Sununu are among the most vulnerable of the 20 Senate Republicans up for re-election in 2008. Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) may also see anti-war ads in his state soon, according to Woodhouse, although no decision has been made yet to air them.

Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), another GOP vulnerable, voted with Democrats on the withdrawal timetable.

Other anti-war groups joining in targeting the Senate Republican vulnerables include MoveOn.org, VoteVets.Org, Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, the Service Employees International Union, and USAction.

The groups are promising to pressure lawmakers in dozens of states to vote to end the war, including prayer vigils, marches outside their homes, veteran "lobbying days," meetings in their districts, petitions to state legislatures opposing the war, and other measures. The groups conduct these events as part of the "Iraq Accountability Project" to force an end to U.S. participation in the war.