A Democratic “super PAC†is joining forces with a labor group to begin a $1.25 million radio ad campaign on Thursday that starts with a direct attack on Mitt Romney as an out-of-touch millionaire who has insulted nearly half of the country.
The one-minute radio ad, by Priorities USA Action and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, plays some of the audio from a secretly taped video of Mr. Romney speaking about 47 percent of Americans at a fund-raiser.
“150 million Americans: seniors, veterans, the disabled,†an announcer says in the ad. “Romney attacked them when he thought no one else was listening.â€
The ad accuses the Republican presidential nomin ee of wanting to raise taxes on the middle class by $2,000 while giving millionaires a tax cut.
“Mitt Romney's just not looking out for us,†the announcer in the ad says.
The radio ad will run in Ohio and Virginia, two of the most critical battleground states, starting this week. The ad or others ads that might follow will continue running throughout the rest of the campaign.
The super PACs backing Mr. Obama have been particularly aggressive in attacking Mr. Romney's wealth on the president's behalf. Priorities USA Action, which is run by former aides to Mr. Obama, have spent millions to highlight the Republican candidate's background in business and his investments.
“Mitt Romney will not stand up for students, veterans, seniors and hard-working Americans looking to make ends meet, but he has no qualms about protecting tax loopholes so he and his fellow multimillionaires can pay a lower rate,†said Paul Begala, a senior adviser for the group. “Romney's agenda would be a blow to the middle class: slash education, turn Medicare into a voucher program and raise taxes on hard-working families.â€
For the radio campaign, the group is teaming up with the labor federation, which has also focused its efforts on accusing Mr. Romney of not being interested in helping working people.
“Romney's complete disdain for the middle class, the hard-working men and women of this country, the 47 percent is reprehensible,†said Seth Johnson, the assistant political director of the labor group.
Aides to Mr. Romney have acknowledged privately that his comments about the 47 percent from the fund-raiser have hurt the campaign. Polls in several battleground states show Mr. Obama with significant leads over Mr. Romney.
They argue, however, that the impact of the comments is already beginning to fade, and will be nothing but a distant memory by the time Election Day rolls around in six weeks.
The Democratic groups behind the radio ads are trying to make sure that doesn't happen.
