Democrats take aim: Campaign ads attack GOP candidates for oil industry ties

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L.A. Times: Campaign ads attack GOP candidates for oil industry ties
With consumers fuming about high gas prices, political strategists see connections to oil firms as an added liability -- and Democrats are taking aim.
By Richard Simon, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
July 29, 2008

WASHINGTON -- As voters steam over gas prices, Republican congressional candidates are bracing for a gusher of ads from now until election day attacking their ties to oil companies.

"What kind of mark has Bob Schaffer made as a politician?" says an ad attacking Colorado's Republican Senate candidate and former congressman. "He's left a definite imprint, accepting over $150,000 in campaign contributions from oil and gas interests and voting in Congress to give oil and gas interests over $13 billion in tax breaks."

Amid the onslaught, the oil industry is increasingly worried about this year's election. Oil executives could face a bigger Democratic majority in Congress and a Democrat in the White House, both set on repealing industry tax breaks and imposing a windfall profits tax. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama supports a tax on windfall profits, while Republican John McCain opposes it....

And more than in years past, the industry's political allies, the bulk of them Republicans, have become prime Democratic targets. "There's always been a negative association in tying candidates, and especially Republicans, to the oil and gas industries," said Mark Longbaugh, a Democratic media consultant, who added that the connection to oil interests was a special liability this year. "I think the issue is probably the biggest anger point of any issue among the electorate today."...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-oil29-2008jul29,0,1565032,full.story