Ten Democrats Getting Chamber of Commerce's Help, and Happy to Have It
As senior party officals criticize Chamber, some Dems are happy for support.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2010 -- In some corners of Democratic politics the uproar coming from senior party officials about how the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is paying for its massive 2010 election advertising campaign is falling on deaf ears.
That's because the Chamber, which has already spent millions on ads boosting Republican Congressional candidates across the country, has also thrown its support behind 10 business-friendly Democrats. In districts from Utah to Virginia, the Chamber has gone on the air with television ads for these candidates and they don't seem to be complaining.
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In Georgia's 8th Congressional District the Chamber recently sponsored an issue ad supportive of Democratic Rep. Jim Marshall, who is battling former Republican state legislator Austin Scott for a fifth term in the House.
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"We're very thankful to have the Chamber's support," Marshall's spokesman Doug Moore said in an interview with ABC News. "We were glad to wake up one morning and have someone supporting us and not attacking us."
Besides Marshall, the Chamber of Commerce is running issue ads on behalf of Democratic Congressional candidates Frank Kratovil in Maryland, Glenn Nye in Virginia, Travis Childers in Mississippi, Bobby Bright in Alabama, Walt Minnick in Idaho, Mike Ross in Arkansas, Jim Matheson in Utah, John Barrow in Georgia and Dan Boren in Oklahoma, according to Federal Election Commission reports and the watchdog group, Campaign Money Watch.
Like the nine other House Democrats the Chamber has put its money behind this year, Marshall voted against the health care reform bill -- a position that the business group highlights in its 30-second spot.
"When seniors look to Washington today, they wonder who will protect them," an announcer says. "With Congress cutting $500 billion from Medicare to pay for their big government health care bill, it's good to know Jim Marshall voted 'no,' telling Washington he's not going to stand for government as the solution."
