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The $200,000 campaign, launched today in the Boston media market and featuring two different TV ads (see them here and here), is sponsored by an independent group calling itself Americans for Responsible Health Care. The group was formed by William Binnie, who is running for Senate this year in New Hampshire.
Democrats point to federal law prohibiting Senate candidates from forming such advocacy groups. Americans for Responsible Health Care did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
..."We knew it was strange for a New Hampshire Republican to plaster himself on the Massachusetts airwaves for Scott Brown, but now we know it's illegal," said Deirdre Murphy, press secretary for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "Will Scott Brown continue to let his Republican buddy run illegal ads for him on the air, or will he denounce the ads and their message?"
Looks like money not well spent for Binnie.
Now MA Dems can rightly cry foul on out-of-state help on Brown's behalf, and Binnie's attempt to increase name rec got him just that - but not exactly in the way he wanted.
Jeff Cohen, the group's spokesman, acknowledged that Binnie was "a catalyst" for its formation, but said he "did not form or fund Americans for Responsible Health Care."
Huh. Just Less than one day ago:
Binnie said today that he has formed a "527" issues advocacy group called Americans for Responsible Health Care to try to help Republican Scott Brown win the U.S. Senate special election in Massachusetts on Jan. 19.
UPDATE 2x: Binnie offers up a save (Pindell, in part)...
n a statement tonight Binnie said that technically the 527 was started by someone else and he just contributed money to it.
...The advertisement I appear in to support Scott Brown is entirely lawful and appropriate. Indeed, it was carefully reviewed by experienced campaign lawyers. The ad is being paid for entirely out of hard-dollar funds consistent with the federal election laws out of Mrs. Parker Collier's personal funds and will be reported to the FEC as such.
...while Brown runs away from him:
Brown spokeswoman Alicia Preston sent a comment on the latest advertising flap: "Scott Brown has called on outside groups to stay out of this election. This race is going to be decided by the very real differences between the candidates and not by outsiders jumping in."
