The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

p> COLLUSION COURSE br> It appears as though the Democratic money machine isn't even trying to hide its coordination with the presidential campaign of presumptive nominee Sen. John Kerry . /p>

Theoretically, organizations that accept and spend unregulated amounts of money are barred from using those funds for overt partisan events or advertising. They are also barred from coordinating their activities with political campaigns.

But Kerry's camp, which is in the midst of a $30 million TV ad spree in 20 states, is desperately attempting to keep up with the campaign of President Bush. "We're spending it as fast as we're pulling it in," says a Kerry fundraiser in Ohio. "It seems like every day we're getting hit for more money."

So big surprise when the Democratic and organized labor-backed New Democrat Network apparently coordinated with the Kerry campaign for Hispanic voter-outreach TV ads that will be running in Florida, Arizona, and Nevada.

The ads, while not overtly supportive of Kerry, hit on immigration and employment issues in such a way that they clearly steer potential voters to register and vote Democratic.

"They're spending more than $5 million in those states throughout the summer into the fall," says a Democratic political consultant, who is aware of the New Democrat Network's activities. "That's five mill more that Kerry doesn't have to spend in Nevada, which could be an important state for us."

According to Kerry surrogate who has done some voter outreach for the campaign, the New Democrat Network worked through intermediaries to find out where the Kerry campaign and the DNC would want their ads to run.

"This kind of coordination is being done all the time," says the Kerry surrogate. "The Republicans are doing it too. We just happen to have more money in the 527s and they like to spend it."

p> FURTHER FOLLY

topics:
Military, NATO, Immigration