http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0207/2829.htmlConservatives Target GOP War Critics in Congress
By: Patrick O'Connor and Josh Kraushaar
February 19, 2007 09:10 PM EST
House Republican leaders and conservative activists are targeting critics of President Bush's plan to send more combat forces into Iraq -- and some GOP lawmakers are on the hit list.
Amid a mounting campaign in Congress to limit Bush's military options, conservatives led by talk show host Hugh Hewitt have created an advocacy group designed to counter the anti-war MoveOn.org. And its first round of targets will be the 17 GOP lawmakers who voted for last week's Democratic resolution in the House opposing the troop increases.
First in the sights of the new Victory Caucus is Rep. Ric Keller, R-Fla., whose district includes Orlando.
While Hewitt carries considerable sway among conservatives, the fledgling Victory Caucus starts out with little of the money and prominence of MoveOn.org, now nationally entrenched as a liberal interest group.
At the same time, House Republicans are hitting Democrats who represent districts Bush won in hopes of preventing a congressional majority that would restrict money for Afghanistan and Iraq. The GOP is flooding those districts with news releases and e-mails warning that Democrats are undermining U.S. troops.
Republicans claim the campaign already has paid off in South Dakota, where the Sioux Falls Argus Leader ran a column over the weekend highlighting how Democratic Rep. Stephanie Herseth is pinched between party leaders and conservative voters in the state.
"We will certainly expose any Democrat who promised to fund the troops in order to get elected who turns around and supports a slow-bleed strategy now that they're here and their leadership is calling the shots," said Jessica Boulanger, communications director for the National Republican Congressional Committee.
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