Dean’s Reply to Attack Ad Is All in Good Funds

An incendiary television ad criticizing Howard Dean brought the Democratic presidential hopeful over half a million dollars in campaign contributions this week.

The mysterious independent political group Americans for Jobs, Healthcare and Progressive Values is responsible for the anti-Dean ad featuring images of Osama bin Laden. The former Vermont governor’s camp transformed the negative publicity into a windfall, amassing $552,000 from supporters in a three-day Internet fundraising push to counter the ad, which aired in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

The group, which has links to both Rep. Richard A. Gephardt’s and Sen. John F. Kerry’s presidential campaigns, spent $400,000 on the ad questioning Dean’s foreign policy expertise. The organization, run by David Jones, a longtime Democratic fundraiser for Gephardt, Al Gore and Bill Clinton, and former Ohio Democratic congressman and Gephardt donor Edward Feighan, is designated by the tax code as a 527 committee. The label enables the outfit to raise unlimited funds for political purposes, unlike national political parties or candidates, which are forbidden from doing so by a new campaign finance law.

The organization pulled the ad from the airwaves late last week in accordance with a federal law prohibiting political ads by independent groups from broadcasting a month before a state’s primary. The Iowa caucuses are Jan. 19 and the New Hampshire primary is Jan. 27

NRA Eyes Broadcast Firepower

Recent rumblings from National Rifle Assn. chief Wayne LaPierre that the pro-gun group is considering whether to buy a television station have ruffled the feathers of Kerry. The senator from Massachusetts sent a protest letter to the Federal Election Commission last week objecting to a potential NRA media outlet, which would be exempt from federal campaign contribution restrictions.

In a statement, Kerry labeled the lobbying group’s possible expansion into broadcasting an effort to “hijack the airwaves.”

While it is unclear when such a venture might become a reality, last week LaPierre said the NRA may purchase a Mexican TV station near the U.S. border to bypass complicated federal regulations that could slow down the channel’s launch.

Desperately Seeking Wesley

Retired Gen. Wesley K. Clark garnered a pop star endorsement Tuesday, when singer-sometime-actress-and-children’s-book-author Madonna announced she backed the general’s bid for the presidency.

“As it stands right now, he’s got my support,” Madonna told CNN.

The two were introduced by activist and filmmaker Michael Moore. The Material Girl recently talked with Clark for about an hour about his policies before making her decision.

No word yet on whether Clark is endorsing Madonna’s much-publicized lip-lock with Britney Spears on the MTV Video Music Awards in August.

Who’s Counting?

260%: Amount the Web traffic on Howard Dean’s campaign site increased by Dec. 1-9, the week of former Vice President Al Gore’s endorsement.

370%: Amount the Web traffic on Sen. Joe Lieberman’s site increased during the same week.

$14: Price of a “Chrissy Gephardt for First Daughter” T-shirt.

Duly Quoted

“Yesterday, Democratic candidate Howard Dean was going to make a major speech on foreign policy, but then Saddam Hussein was captured and he had to change the speech dramatically at the last second. The new title: ‘Oh, Crap!’ ” -- Conan O’Brien on NBC’s “Late Night” Tuesday.

Compiled from staff, Web and wire reports by Times researcher Susannah Rosenblatt.