WASHINGTON (CNN) – The Republican National Committee will unveil a new Web video Thursday critical of President Obama's plan to revive the economy.

It is the third such video released by opponents and supporters of Obama's stimulus strategy in the past 24 hours. The Democratic National Committee released a Web video criticizing House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, for recent comments he made on the plan, and House Republicans have issued their own video critical of the plan.

Full script after the jump

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WASHINGTON (CNN) – National Democrats wasted no time in accusing Sarah Palin of abandoning her state after the Alaska governor revealed Friday that she was resigning from office.

Five days later and 4,600 miles away, the New Hampshire Democratic Party chairman is leveling the same charge against New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte, who announced Tuesday she would soon leave office to explore a Senate bid in 2010.

New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley's sharp criticism of Ayotte is not surprising – he is trying to discredit, perhaps, the strongest candidate the Republican Party could field in this open seat race next year. But what is interesting is that Buckley compared Ayotte to Palin.
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The co-founder of a pro-Palin online movement says there was an enormous surge in interest over the weekend after the Alaska governor's surprise announcement on Friday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – While Marjorie Dannenfelser acknowledges that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's decision to resign from office "defies conventional wisdom," it hasn't dampened the enthusiasm this mother of five has for Palin to run for president in 2012.

"One thing we have learned about Sarah Palin is that conventional wisdom is just that," said Dannenfelser, co-founder of Team Sarah, a 70,000 person strong on-line movement dedicated to promoting all-things Palin. "She is not a conventional campaigner. She is not a conventional model of women in politics. And it is that very lack of conventionality is what attracts grassroots supporters to her."

If Palin wants to increase her influence in the Republican Party or run a serious campaign for president in 2012, she is going to need the backing of grassroots activists, as it now appears the GOP establishment is distancing itself from the soon-to-be former Alaska governor. Very few GOP strategists have described Palin's decision to resign from office with 18 months remaining as a political wise move, and many have even suggested that her decision was so irrational that she can no longer be considered a serious contender for the GOP nomination.

But Dannenfelser understands the grassroots, specifically social conservatives — an influential Republican constituency. She is the president of the "Susan B. Anthony List" and "Team Sarah" is under the umbrella of this anti-abortion rights organization.

Over the weekend, Dannenfelser said that she saw "an enormous surge of support for" Palin and noted that membership at "Team Sarah," alone, has grown by 1,000 people.
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WASHINGTON (CNN) — Former Sen. John Sununu, R-New Hampshire, announced Wednesday he would not seek the 2010 GOP nomination for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Judd Gregg, R- New Hampshire.

"Representing New Hampshire in the United States Senate is a great honor, but effective public service is much more than just a desire to hold office," Sununu said in a statement sent to CNN. "It's essential that the timing fit both personally and professionally.

"This year I've made commitments to serve several technology firms, begun working with a number of non-profit policy groups, and continue to serve on the Congressional Oversight Panel for the TARP. Equally important, campaigns require great sacrifice from family. After running in seven primary and general elections over twelve years, my family still means more to me than anything else. I very much intend to keep it that way."

Sununu was first elected to the House in 1996 and served in that chamber until he was elected to the Senate in 2002. He defeated New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen in the 2002 Senate race, but in a rematch six years later she won the seat.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – House Republicans will target freshman Rep. Tom Perriello in a new television commercial that criticizes the Virginia Democrat for his recent vote in favor of controversial energy reform legislation.

The 30-second political ad will begin airing Wednesday in the Lynchburg and Roanoke media markets and marks the first time the House GOP campaign arm, National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), has used President Obama in a commercial in the 2010 election cycle. It is scheduled to run for one week.

The TV ad is part of a larger public relations campaign by House Republicans to criticize Democrats for supporting the bill that the GOP claims will result in a tax increase and stunt job growth.

NRCC official Ken Spain told CNN that voters in 13 additional congressional districts will hear radio ads or receive telephone calls criticizing their Democratic congressmen for voting in favor of the energy legislation. The bill passed late last week by a slim 219 to 212 margin, largely along party lines with 44 Democrats joining the GOP leadership in voting against it and eight Republicans crossing over to the Democratic side to support it.

Congress is on break for the Fourth of July holiday this week and most lawmakers are back home meeting with constituents and attending town hall gatherings.

The Democrats being targeted by the NRCC include: Ohio Rep. John Boccieri, Virginia Rep. Rick Boucher, Iowa Rep. Bruce Braley, Tennessee Rep. Bart Gordon, Florida Rep. Alan Grayson, Illinois Rep. Deborah Halvorson, Indiana Rep. Baron Hill, Ohio Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy, Colorado Rep. Betsy Markey, Missouri Rep. Ike Skelton, Arkansas Rep. Vic Snyder, Ohio Rep. Zack Space, and New Mexico Rep. Harry Teague.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – A new multi-million national television campaign launches this week that is designed to pressure Congress to enact healthcare reform, organizers tell CNN.

Families USA and The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) are paying to air three new 30-second ads in the coming weeks on CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC. Dave Lemmon, a spokesman for Families USA, described the ad buy as a “multi-million, multi-week” effort to convince lawmakers to listen to President Obama’s call to Congress to deliver a healthcare reform bill to his desk by October.

In the first six months of this year, more than $22 million has been spent on healthcare reform commercials, according to an analysis conducted by Campaign Media Analysis Group, CNN's consultant on political television advertising.

The commercials feature people discussing how the rising cost of healthcare has affected them personally. Public polling shows that healthcare reform is a major concern for Americans.

"More and more families are being priced out of the health care they used to take for granted,” said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA. “This ad campaign, involving real people, shows that there will be a huge cost to America's families and businesses if we fail to achieve meaningful health care reform this year."

The CMAG analysis estimates that supporters of President Obama's approach to health care reform are outspending opponents on the air by a margin of greater than 2-to-1 in 2009. Families USA and PhRMA are considered supporters of Obama’s call for healthcare reform.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Supporters of President Obama's approach to health care reform are pouring millions of dollars into television commercials this year to help promote it, outspending opponents on the air by a margin of greater than 2-to-1.

Pro-Obama interest groups have spent $8.2 million on TV, while groups that oppose his proposal have countered with $3.2 million in commercials to help shape the extremely contentious debate over how best to reform the nation's health care system.

In all, more than $22 million has been spent on television commercials on the health care issue so far this year, according to an analysis conducted by Campaign Media Analysis Group, CNN's consultant on political television advertising.

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Barbour will head the RGA.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has assumed the chairmanship of the Republican Governors Association, CNN has learned.

Barbour immediately takes over as head of the national Republican campaign organization following South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford’s announcement he was leaving the post. Sanford acknowledged Wednesday that he had an extramarital affair with a woman in Argentina.

“The news revealed today hurts all of us who have gotten to know Governor Sanford over the years and so it is with regret that the RGA accepted Governor Sanford’s resignation as chairman,” Barbour said in a statement obtained by CNN that will be distributed Wednesday afternoon. “While this news is deeply disappointing, I also know it’s important to remain focused on the future and Governor Sanford’s resignation allows him and us to do just that.

Barbour added: “The RGA has an important task over the next two years. I am committed to seeing it through and confident we will succeed.”

Nick Ayers, the RGA’s executive director, expressed disappointment about Sanford’s revelation.

“While I am personally disappointed in today’s revelation, I also know that it’s important for both Governor Sanford and the RGA to move forward as quickly as possible,” Ayers said in the forthcoming statement. “Therefore we accepted his resignation this afternoon.

“However, the RGA is fortunate that Governor Haley Barbour was in line to become RGA Chairman, a position he assumed today. As a former RNC chairman and one of the best governors in the country, no one is better positioned to takeover as RGA chairman than Governor Barbour.”

The RNC unveiled its first ad of the cycle Wednesday that takes aim at Obama.

WASHINGTON (CNN) –- The Republican National Committee slams President Obama’s plan to reform the nation’s health care system in a new television ad that is set to air Wednesday on national cable television.

The RNC also offers thinly-veiled criticism of ABC for broadcasting a live presidential town hall meeting Wednesday on the issue of health care, but not including GOP national leaders in the event. The RNC does not name ABC, but mentions that the president will appear on a "national TV network" to discuss the issue. Republicans have accused ABC of promoting Obama's health care plan, pointing to the extensive coverage the network is giving the subject on its morning, evening and late night newscasts. The network has denied the charge.

This is the RNC's first TV ad of the 2010 election cycle. It will not release further details about the ad buy, but the script hints that it will only run on Wednesday — timed to coincide with the ABC town hall.

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The Republican National Committee is urging GOP members of Congress to take to the local airwaves next week.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The Republican National Committee is urging GOP members of Congress to take to the local airwaves next week to discuss their approach to healthcare reform in an effort to counter an ABC News primetime special featuring President Obama speaking on the issue.

The RNC is informing GOP congressional offices this morning that it will pay for and help schedule the interviews with local television reporters in their states and districts.

The RNC tells the Republican lawmakers it is taking this step because they said their request to be included in the special “was denied.”

“This means that President Obama and the Democrats will have an entire day to push their government-run health care agenda without hearing Republicans’ policy ideas and principles on health care reform,” the RNC writes in the memo that was obtained by CNN.

Read the full memo after the jump

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President Obama is set to headline a Democratic fundraiser on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – A fundraising dinner featuring President Obama will raise around $3 million for congressional Democrats on Thursday, two sources familiar with the event tell CNN.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will split the $3 million haul, which falls far short of a recent GOP congressional fundraiser headlined by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Spokesmen for the National Republican Congressional Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee said $14 million was raised at that event held earlier this month.

Still, the two fundraisers are difficult to compare because Democrats refused donations from registered lobbyists and political action committees for this dinner. Obama does not accept contributions from PACs and lobbyists.

One of the Democratic sources said that attendees at this week’s fundraiser are primarily new donors, while the other source noted that the ban on lobbyist and PAC donations was a temporary measure for this dinner and that those traditional contributors will continue to give to congressional Democrats.

Still, the sizable money gap raises questions as to why a popular president and the congressional Democratic majority were not able to pull in more money at a major fundraiser.

Eighteen months before the midterm elections, the congressional campaign committees are aggressively seeking to raise money. In the latest Federal Election Commission disclosures, The DSCC was carrying a debt of $4.6 million with a cash-on-hand balance of more than $2.6 million; the DCCC was $7 million in debt, and had $4 million in the bank; the NRSC had $2.6 million in the bank and no debt; and the NRCC was $5 million in debt and had about $3.7 million cash-on hand.

Updated: 7:40 p.m.

Democrats are hoping the Senate vote on Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court takes place by the congressional summer recess.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - While Democrats are hoping the Senate vote on Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court takes place by the congressional summer recess, Republican Sen. John Thune told CNN Radio Tuesday he thinks the vote might not occur until September.

"I don't think there is any rush, only because the new court doesn't open until October," the South Dakota Republican said in an interview with Mark Preston and Lisa Desjardins that was streamed live on CNN.com.

Thune, who said has not yet decided if he will support or oppose Sotomayor, has launched a new Web site: to serve as a conservative clearing house to discuss the nomination.

"What we simply did is created a forum for people from my state to interact with others and to inform them about some of the things that she has said in the past and positions she has taken and what not," Thune said. "We are trying to make it a very open process where people have an opportunity to sort of contribute their input and hear things that she has said herself."

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President Barack Obama on Tuesday proposed making 'pay-as-you-go' rules for federal spending into law.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Barack Obama on Tuesday proposed making "pay-as-you-go" rules for federal spending into law.

The so-called PAYGO proposal requires Congress to balance any increased spending by equal savings elsewhere, Obama told a news conference.

A previous PAYGO mandate helped erase federal budget deficits in the 1990s, and subsequent ineffective rules contributed to the current budget deficits, Obama said. Now the PAYGO rules should be the law, he said.

"Paying for what you spend is basic common sense," Obama said. "Perhaps that's why, here in Washington, it's been so elusive."

Republican leaders said the proposal comes after record spending initiatives by the Obama administration, such as the $787 billion economic
stimulus program.

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epublican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele is urging congressional Republicans and state GOP leaders to continue publicly questioning President Obama's economic and health care plans.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele is urging congressional Republicans and state GOP leaders to continue publicly questioning President Obama's economic and health care plans, while highlighting the party's ideology of fiscal discipline.

Steele made the request Tuesday to all 168 RNC members as well as the GOP congressional leadership in a memo obtained by CNN.

On the economy, Steele takes aim at Obama's decision to use federal dollars as a lifeline to help save the automotive and financial industries.

"Republicans should continue to demand answers from the Administration about when they plan on returning companies to the private sector and getting them off of the public dole," Steele writes in the memo.

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WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Obama deployed his health czar Monday to brief state Democratic Party leaders, operatives and activists on the White House's strategy to pass health care reform this year, a party source tells CNN.

Nancy-Ann DeParle's conference call with Democratic state party chairs, senior state political aides and health care activists follows Organizing for America's campaign-style house parties, held this past weekend to help build support for health care reform from the grassroots level. DeParle serves as counselor to the president and director of the White House Office of Health Reform.

Obama himself called on Congress this past weekend to send him a health care bill by October.

"We are building off of the 50-state strategy and making sure we are able to use the state parties as an effective tool, in addition to President Obama's grassroots network, Organizing for America, to advance the president's agenda," said a source familiar with the details of the call, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Organizing for America, an arm of the DNC, e-mailed supporters to rally support for Sonia Sotomayor.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — National Democrats launched a national effort Friday to rally support for Judge Sonia Sotomayor, who President Obama introduced this week as his nominee for the Supreme Court.

Organizing for America, Obama's campaign organization which is now an arm of the Democratic National Committee, e-mailed its 13 million supporters a warning that "our opponents will try to play politics with Judge Sotomayor's nomination, and it's up to us to help get out the facts and show the public — and key decision-makers — how much support she really has."

Mitch Stewart, the director of OFA and author of the e-mail, suggested supporters write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper or call their senators to express support for Sotomayor.

OFA is offering supporters downloadable pictures of Sotomayor to be placed on social networking Web sites like Facebook, and posters to show support for Obama's nominee. It has also created a Web page titled "Stand With Sotomayor" to serve as the platform for this campaign.

The NRCC's new tv spot has a Mission Impossible theme.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — House Republicans have launched a coordinated public relations blitz against 17 congressional Democrats that seeks to tie them to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her accusations that the CIA misled Congress about the interrogation of terror suspects.

Specifically, the multi-faceted campaign targets these Democrats with television or radio ads, or a pre-recorded telephone message to constituents' homes, that criticizes the members of Congress for voting against initiating an investigation into when Pelosi learned about the use of waterboarding.

It is the first time the National Republican Congressional Committee, the campaign arm of the congressional GOP, has bought a TV ad using Pelosi's comments about the CIA. Late last week, the Republican National Committee posted a Web video comparing the House speaker to the James Bond character Pussy Galore. The RNC video has since been removed from its Web site and You Tube.

(Updated after the jump with Democratic response)
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A new ad backing Sotomayor was ready less than a day after her nomination was announced.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – A new television ad promoting Judge Sonia Sotomayor will begin airing Wednesday, less than 24 hours after President Obama introduced her as his pick for the Supreme Court.

The 30-second ad is being paid for by the Coalition for Constitutional Values, an umbrella group that includes liberal-leaning organizations such as the Alliance for Justice, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and People for the American Way.

"This spot introduces the American people to Judge Sonia Sotomayor," Wade Henderson, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights — the nation’s oldest coalition of civil rights organizations, said in a statement to CNN. "Every aspect of American life is affected by our justice system. It's important that they understand her fair-minded approach to the law which is grounded both in her eminent legal qualifications and her life experiences."

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WASHINGTON (CNN) – Liberal political activists will descend on the nation's capital next week to plot strategy on issues ranging from healthcare to energy and the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.

In previous years the conference was titled "Take Back America," but with President Obama now in the White House it has been renamed "America's Future Now."

Obama addressed the conference in 2006 and 2007, and has been invited to appear once again. So far, the president hasn't RSVP'd — but the 2,000 activists who have will be rubbing elbows with the likes of Jared Bernstein, Vice President Biden's economic advisor; former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean; and Mitch Stewart, who directs Organizing for America, Obama's political arm at the DNC.

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Joe Biden wrote a campaign e-mail urging his supporters to stand behind Republican-turned-Democrat Sen. Arlen Specter.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Sen. Arlen Specter continues to feel the love from the White House, with Vice President Joe Biden penning a campaign e-mail Thursday for the Republican-turned-Democrat.

"Over the years, we've certainly had our disagreements," Biden writes in the note that was sent to 500,000 Pennsylvanians on the Democratic National Committee/Organizing for America e-mail list. "During that time, however, Arlen has been my friend, my confidant, and my partner in enacting many pieces of significant legislation."

The e-mail includes hyperlinks that direct people to a page dedicated to Specter on the DNC Web site.

President Obama and national Democrats pledged to support Specter in his 2010 re-election run after he switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat last month. For now, Specter does not have a primary opponent, but Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak has not ruled out a bid for the party's Senate nomination.

The Specter Web site is the only candidate presence on the DNC Web site, a spokesman told CNN.

"It provides a place for folks who want to learn more about Senator Specter's record of integrity and service, and when they visit we are sure they will see why the President and Vice President see Senator Specter as a key ally in helping to advance an agenda for change on major issues including reforming America's health care system," DNC spokesman Hari Sevugan told CNN.

Another one of the three bullet points highlighted by the DNC is "Judiciary Confirmations: Senator Specter has played an important role in nine different Supreme Court nominations since 1981."

What the DNC doesn't mention is that Specter voted for Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito to join the U.S. Supreme Court, and for then-Justice William Rehnquist to be chief justice. None of the men were exactly Democrats' most beloved justices on the Court.

Full text of Biden's e-mail after the jump

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