CNN

A new Obama fundraising e-mail sent by campaign manager David Plouffe.

(CNN) – Barack Obama’s campaign is using reports of a pro-Hillary Clinton group airing television ads on her behalf in its own fundraising appeals, sending supporters a plea for donations that points to actions by “Swift Boat-style groups and smear campaigns.”

“News broke yesterday that a few wealthy Clinton supporters are gearing up for a massive spending campaign to boost her chances in the big upcoming contests in Texas and Ohio on March 4th,” wrote David Plouffe in the Thursday e-mail message.

“The so-called ‘American Leadership Project’ will take unlimited contributions from individuals and is organized the same way as the infamous Swift Boat Veterans for Truth,” he added.

Yesterday, the Obama campaign sent out a statement that used the same comparison – a characterization Jason Kinney, an organizer of the group, called “heavy-handed and hypocritical.”

ALP, which includes veterans of the Clinton administration and longtime supporters, is a “527” group, which means it is not bound by federal campaign finance laws as long as it does not directly advocate on behalf of a particular candidate.

Their new ad praises Clinton and seems to criticize Obama, though the ad released Wednesday does not mention the Illinois senator by name.

–CNN Associate Political Editor Rebecca Sinderbrand