Outsiders spend big on Senate race here
Everyone wants to tell Tennesseans how to vote in the U.S. Senate race between Democratic Rep. Harold Ford Jr. and Republican Bob Corker... VoteVets falls into this category, as does the Free Enterprise Fund Committee, primarily funded by Bob Perry, a Houston homebuilder who financed the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ads attacking Sen. John Kerry during his presidential bid. The group paid $108,068 for a television ad accusing Ford of "living it up on campaign cash but pushing higher taxes for Tennessee families."

Outsiders spend big on Senate race here
Corker-Ford contest generates $10M in ads from out of state

By BILL THEOBALD
Tennessean Washington Bureau
Thursday, 11/02/06

Everyone wants to tell Tennesseans how to vote in the U.S. Senate race between Democratic Rep. Harold Ford Jr. and Republican Bob Corker.

And lots of them are from beyond the state's borders — a confusing stew of national party committees, union and business political action committees, interest group political action committees and independent groups.

In total, these groups have spent more than $10 million for independent television, radio and print advertisements, brochures and phone calls. That's on top of the more than $21 million the two candidates' campaign committees have spent already, placing the race fourth among the 33 Senate campaigns.

Just this week, a new national player on the Tennessee scene, VoteVets, which includes retired general and former presidential candidate Wesley Clark, launched television ads calling for a change in the country's Iraq policy.

Since the trailers for political ads can move by pretty quickly, here is a quick guide to the groups trying to sway Tennesseans in the Senate race:

Party committees: The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has spent the most, about $4.8 million through Monday, according to Federal Election Commission records. The Republican National Committee has spent $2.3 million, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee another $1.9 million.

Probably the most infamous ad from this group was the television spot featuring a cooing blonde, lampooning Ford's attendance at a Playboy Super Bowl party. Many criticized the ad for race baiting.

Political action committees: Nonprofit groups and unions are limited in their political activity, so they form separate but affiliated organizations to raise and spend money. In the Tennessee race, the National Right to Life PAC has been the most active, spending $224,136 to support Corker. The International Association of Firefighters PAC has spent $212,688 for Ford.

Independent groups: VoteVets falls into this category, as does the Free Enterprise Fund Committee, primarily funded by Bob Perry, a Houston homebuilder who financed the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ads attacking Sen. John Kerry during his presidential bid. The group paid $108,068 for a television ad accusing Ford of "living it up on campaign cash but pushing higher taxes for Tennessee families."

Some of these independent groups, tax-exempt under Section 527 of the federal tax code, have grown in importance since campaign reform legislation passed in 2002. That law banned unlimited donations to the national political parties, so-called "soft money."

But these so-called 527 groups raise unlimited soft money and can spend as much as they want, as long as they don't explicitly advocate for the election or defeat of a particular candidate. •

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