CNN: DNC (Obama) targets moderates (Landrieu) in new ads
by Bob Costantini (excerpt)

WASHINGTON (CNN) – If you have not had enough of reform talk, welcome to "Health Care Action Week." That's what Organizing for America is calling its grassroots meetings, phone banks and door-to-door canvassing efforts this week, as it helps push broad Democratic health care reform proposals.

Organizing for America is the grassroots network that was "Obama for America" during the 2008 presidential election cycle. After the inauguration, OFA moved its operations to the Democratic National Committee.

And between now and the scheduled August 7 recess of Congress, OFA and the DNC have launched 30-second TV and radio ads, some running on CNN, urging the public to get behind the broader health care reform proposals.

The campaign has raised eyebrows for its obvious targeting of certain lawmakers including some moderate Democrats. On the Senate level, the ads will be running in Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, North Dakota, Nebraska and Ohio.

In the ads, average Americans give very brief statements about their problems with the current health care system; the ad concludes with them consecutively saying, "It's time!" — meaning it's time to reform the system. At the end, a phone number appears urging viewers to call Senators or Representatives, depending on the target.

"Yes. Look, these senators have important voices," DNC spokesman Hari Sevugan said in an interview with CNN Radio.