Pirate's Cove

Just a few weeks left, and some Democrats are running on ObamaCare, the Stimulus, and their massive spending. Just kidding

Republicans have won points with many voters by promising a conservative overhaul of taxes and spending, but Democrats are working hard in the closing weeks of the campaign to convince voters that a conservative social agenda is waiting in the wings, too, should Republicans be elected in large numbers.

Abortion rights is the flash point, being wielded by the left in hard-fought races from New York’s contest for governor, to Senate races in Florida and California, as Democratic candidates or groups try to rally their base and attract moderate Republican or independent women — a slice of the electorate that is even more coveted than in years past.

Wow, this sounds like a winner! But, even the Fish Wrap acknowledges that danger

The Democratic strategy is at least drawing the attention of voters. But it comes with a risk, too: Does selling the idea that Republican fiscal warriors are social zealots in disguise send a shiver of fear down voters’ spines, or make Democrats look like they are avoiding the subject on most voters’ minds?

In the bruising race for a Senate seat here in Colorado, one ad features a Denver obstetrician in her scrubs, saying women will lose control of their bodies if Ken Buck, the Republican nominee, wins. Another, from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, says privacy is at stake with a Buck victory over Senator Michael Bennet, a Democrat.

The Buck campaign has said the attacks are simply an attempt to change the subject.

“The No. 1 issues are jobs and the economy, and Michael Bennet can’t run on that,” said Owen Loftus, a spokesman for the Buck campaign. “It’s a desperate effort by a desperate campaign.”

Democrats have been avoiding the issues for most of the Silly Season. As has been mentioned so many times, many do not even advertise that they are Democrats, many say they oppose the Obama-Reid-Pelosi agenda, and most do not want Obama anywhere near them. But, really, if you can’t run on your legislative record, find something else to make your opponent look scary. Or, make them look like, well, really, I’m not sure what this is supposed to convey, just that the GOP is getting money that Democrats think they deserve

In January, during his first State of the Union address, President Obama predicted that a U.S. Supreme Court decision would “open the floodgates” of money into campaigns. He warned against elections that are “bankrolled” by powerful interests.

Now that flood of cash has arrived, mostly into new organizations that are working on behalf of Mr. Obama’s adversaries and are not required to disclose their donors. The money is helping Republican candidates take advantage of a wave of anger and dissatisfaction across the country.

But in the last weeks of the campaign, the money itself is becoming the story as Democrats seek to shine light on where it comes from and Republicans defend the election-year spending as a constitutionally protected form of speech.

Now that Republicans are getting tons of money, Democrats, and the media, have a problem with it. In the last few weeks, there have been multiple stories from the media discussing how, all of sudden, the money is bad. Max Baucus wants investigations of the groups, mostly (or all) on the right. We’ve been told that special interest spending is way up, and mostly to those evil Republicans. Al Franken wants the FEC to investigate foreign money to the US Chamber of Congress (which has said some “mean” things about ObamaCare and other Dem legislation, such as cap and tax). When it was Democrats receiving massive special interest money, or potentially illegal contributions, during the 2006 and 2008 cycles, nary a peep from either Democrats or the media.

Fortunately, Republicans have learned something, and are fighting back. But, think that will get much airplay? Or will it mostly be Obama and other Dems whining about the money (because they aren’t the recipients)?