Broad Effort Emerges to Help Democrats Cope With Loss of 'soft Money'

[Judi Lynn]

Broad Effort Emerges to Help Democrats Cope With Loss of 'soft Money'
By Sharon Theimer Associated Press Writer
Published: Aug 14, 2003


WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic-leaning interest groups are emerging as a "shadow party" working to raise millions of dollars to try to defeat President Bush while working around a new law designed to take big money out of politics.

Unlike national party committees, the groups can accept soft money - donations from corporations and unions and unlimited contributions from any source - for next year's election.

"Welcome to campaign finance reform," said Harold Ickes, a former Clinton administration adviser taking part in the effort. "The genesis of all these new groups in large measure is the need to raise soft money and to do whatever they can do in terms of voter mobilization, within the bounds of the law."

While Democrats were key supporters of the new law, its ban on soft money has so far hit them harder than the GOP. (snip/...)

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAWD3BFCJD.html