DSCC paving a new way?

Published on July 22, 2008
by Michael Schrimpf

The Hill examines today a new trend being employed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) that allows for greater coordination between the DSCC and candidates' campaigns. But, while the DSCC's  innovation may, according to The Hill, "change the way the campaign game is played," the response from Republicans reinforces the idea that the major purpose of most campaign finance complaints is to discredit your opponent.

First, here is what the Democrats are doing: "In recent weeks the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) has begun its 2008 ad campaign by funding issue ads that feature their candidates in Mississippi and Oregon and are coordinated with their campaigns.

However, the ads don’t expressly ask viewers to vote for those candidates, and Democrats maintain that this loophole will allow them to spend lots more money on the television spots.

Campaign finance regulations restrict the amount of money the DSCC can spend on coordinated efforts with a candidate’s campaign. But because the ads don’t ask viewers to vote for the candidates, Democrats contend that law doesn’t apply."

Predictably, the Republicans responded by filing complaints with the FEC alleging that the advertisements are illegal and they have used these complaints to shape "court of public opinion, and the GOP has gained some traction with a media blitz..."

"Regardless of the legal controversy, though, the ads have already gotten lots of critical ink in Oregon, and could also in Mississippi. The campaign of Sen. Roger Wicker (R) is fighting back with an FEC complaint and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is fighting the substance of the ad with its own Web ad."

Additionally, "the Portland Oregonian, Eugene Register-Guard and Medford Mail Tribune have all run editorials critical of the approach."

Lost amid the speculation over whether the ads are legal or not - Jan Baran thinks they probably are - is a more important point: no one can credibly argue that the Democratic senatorial candidates in Missippi or Oregon are less qualified because the DSCC is running advertisements in coordination with their campaigns.