Question about campaign finance laws and our issue ads

[Bombtrack]

I'm pretty sure that Kerry has to approve most of the anti-Bush ads, but does he have to approve pro-Kerry ads? Can the party or some group run ads of popular democrats in certain states(John Glen in Ohio, Graham in Florida, Rockefeller in WV etc), just praising Kerry, without him approving them in the add? Anyone know?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

1. I'm pretty sure the answer is no.

Any advocacy of Kerry for President would count as an in-kind contribution. But I think there might be some gray area for information that is strictly informative, not advocacy.... for example, distributing a historical account of Kerry's Vietnam service and anti-war protests. Still, it's close enough to the line that I would stick to just attacking Bush, you definitely have an independent right to do so as a US citizen.

[Bombtrack]

2. you would "stick to just attacking Bush", don't you see that that can have

a backlash. That antagony towards negativism is pretty universal. Look at what happened with Dean and Gephardt, and in contrast, look how far Edwards got.

I think that there are alot of positive things about Kerry that alot of people might not know about. If it were me I would sort of frame him as a populist Wellstonish type. Someone the establishment didn't want in the senate because of his leadership in VVAW. Who lead on Iran contra and BCCI investigations and was proved a visionary on that. Who normalized relations with McCain in Vietnam. We should have Napolitano read it in Arizona, Oscar Goodman or Harry Reid in Nevada, Gephardt in Missouri, Rockefeller in West Virginia, and Graham in Florida, all read invidualized ads.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

4. You asked a question about campaign finance laws

which I tried to help answer. A question about the party or independent groups running pro-Kerry ads. I am pretty sure those type of ads would be illegal.

One more time: I'm pretty sure those type of ads would be illegal.

So no, I don't think it would be good strategy for outside groups or the party to run an illegal ad campaign.

The Kerry campaign should run those type of positive ads.

[HFishbine]

3. There are two tests

1) Who is controlling the message. If the Kerry campaign has any input, then Kerry must approve the message.

2) As long as the ad does not specifically advocate for the election or defeat of a candidate, it is an "issue" ad.