Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Union-backed group resumes anti-Healey ad campaign

An independent group heavily funded by labor unions and supporting Democrat Deval Patrick, resumed their advertising attack on Republican Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey today. The Patriot Majority Fund began airing a 30-second TV spot, titled "Heckuva Job," attempting to link Healey with President George W. Bush. The ad recycles themes from an earlier ad by the group but uses images of Bush on the screen simultaneously and closes with a narrator saying "Kerry Healey and George Bush -- They just don't get it."

Dan Cence, local spokesman for the group, would not say how much is being spent on the ad or how long it will air. Last month, the Patriot Majority Fund spent $450,000 on TV ads. The group is financed primarily by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, Local 1199 of the Service Employees International Union, and the Democratic Governors Association, all of which have kicked in $250,000 to date.

The teachers and SEIU local unions have both endorsed Patrick and are funding their own separate advertisements that began airing this week in support of his gubernatorial candidacy.

The Patriot Majority Fund is one of two "527" political organizations engaged in the Massachusetts governors race. The other is the Republican Governors Association, which spent about $890,000 on ads supporting Healey and criticizing Patrick before coming off the air earlier this month. Under section 527 of the federal tax code, organizations may raise unlimited funds to spend on "issue ads" but may not expressly advocate the election or defeat of a candidate. They also may not coordinate their activities with candidates or party entities.

Posted by Brian Mooney, Political Reporter at 11:20 AM

Print | E-mail to a friend | Permalink | Subscribe via rss