Holly Bailey
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Jul 30, 2009 12:01 PM
If you thought the debate over health care reform was heated now, just wait until Congress goes home for recess—especially if you live in a so-called swing district. Pretty much every lobby with a stake in health care—big business, insurance, pharmaceutical companies, both political parties, among others—are planning a major blitz to try to shape the outcome of the bill. And that means you likely won’t get a reprieve from the back and forth over cost and the so-called public plan anytime soon. For lack of a better word, it’s going to be a total ad-pocalyse, along the likes of what we saw during the final weeks of the presidential campaign last fall.
So far, President Obama’s allies have been the most vocal. Organizing for America, the grassroots remnants of President Obama’s presidential campaign, launched ads several weeks ago targeting moderate Democrats—much to the chagrin of some in the party. OFA won’t say how much it’s spent so far, but safe to say, it’s been a bundle, and the group plans to spend even more in the coming weeks on TV ads and other grassroots efforts to sway the public into putting pressure on lawmakers to pass a bill. Ditto for other Obama allies in the fight, including the labor movement and progressive groups like MoveOn.org—all of whom are planning major campaigns during the recess. The big message: We can no longer afford to wait on health care reform. All told, Obama allies have spent at least $10 million so far advocating for the president’s health care proposal, according to the Campaign Media and Analysis Group, which tracks ad buys.
Those opposed to the bill have spent a little over half that much—but that disparity likely won’t last.
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