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Obama’s Grass-Roots Group Targets Moderate Democrats on Health Bill

President Barack Obama is targeting Senators in his own political party with television ads, urging these skeptical Democrats to embrace health care reform legislation that could put them in a political bind at home.The television spot was announced Wednesday morning by Organizing for America, the successor organization to Obama’s presidential campaign apparatus now run out of the Democratic National Committee.Although the ad buy is described by Organizing for America — previously known as Obama for America — as “calling on Senators in those states— to support health reform, the states targeted make it clear that the president is using the television spot mostly to prod centrist Democrats on the issue.According to an OFA press release, the ad is set to run in Washington, D.C., and local stations in Arkansas, Indiana, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, North Dakota, Nebraska and Ohio — a clear shot at Democratic Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor of Arkansas, as well as Democratic Sens. Evan Bayh (Ind.), Mary Landrieu (La.), Kent Conrad (N.D.) and Ben Nelson (Neb.). Obama is also looking for support from moderate GOP Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine.The 30-second ad features individuals sharing personal stories on why health care reform legislation should pass.

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