Ad ties Republicans to Limbaugh

A labor union and progressive group launched a new national cable TV ad that tries to protect President Obama from Republican attacks by arguing that the GOP takes it marching orders from conservative radio icon Rush Limbaugh.

The spot from AFSCME and Americans United for Change says that congressional Republicans followed Limbaugh's lead in nearly unanimously opposing the $787 billion stimulus package, and are now echoing his opposition to the budget outline Obama unveiled Thursday.

The ad shows a succession of Republican leaders saying, "No" to Obama's proposals, then shows Limbaugh saying on his radio show that he wants Obama "to fail."

Alex Conant, spokesman for the Republican National Committee, responded: “The Democrats are running a permanent campaign rather than doing the bipartisan work of governing. These ads are part of the Democrats’ larger strategy to do something, anything to try to take the focus of their massive spending binge.”