Backers of climate bill spend more on ads

WASHINGTON -- Environmentalists and others supporting climate-change legislation are outspending the measure's opponents in the television advertising skirmish underway in advance of Senate action this month, new data show.

Supporters of the plan to curb greenhouse-gas emissions spent $2.9 million in August as they seek to renew interest in legislation overshadowed by the contentious battle over President Obama's health care initiative. That's $1 million more than what opponents spent, according to Evan Tracey, who tracks political advertising at the Campaign Media Analysis Group.

The surge in spending during the lawmakers' August recess put the proponents ahead overall. They have spent $8 million in support of the measure since Jan. 1, compared with $7.4 million by those opposed.

"The perception is that environmentalists are a bunch of unwashed kids tying themselves to trees," Tracey said. "That's not the case anymore. These are very sophisticated and well-funded campaigns."

Even so, the ad blitz by environmental and liberal groups stands in contrast to lobbying patterns. Oil and gas interests have spent more than $82 million in lobbying during the first six months of this year, according to federal data compiled by the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics. By comparison, environmental groups spent $9.8 million.

The spending is not about to abate. Wednesday, the League of Conservation Voters launched a TV ad against Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo, the latest in a series targeting lawmakers who voted against the House version of the climate-change bill in June.

The league's Mike Palamuso would not provide spending figures but said the group is investing more money in the climate-change campaign than it has on any other bill.

"This is the most significant piece of energy legislation we've seen in at least a generation," he said. "We are laying the foundation for the fight ahead."

Another group, the liberal Americans United for Change, is spending $430,000 through the Labor Day weekend on ads that slam two Virginia Republicans, Reps. Eric Cantor and Frank Wolf, for their "no" votes. The ads targeting Wolf run in the Washington TV market.