National Anti-Corruption Campaign Escalates Against Congresswoman Hayworth

Friends of Democracy Targets Rep. Hayworth as One of 8 “Foes of Democracy” in National Anti-Corruption Campaign; Announces New Push

Friends of Democracy today announced an escalated push against Representative Nan Hayworth today, naming him one of eight “Foes of Democracy” nationwide. Following a limited direct mail test in August, the scaled up program will include $200,000 to run a micro-targeted direct mail, phone contact and online advertising to unseat Rep. Hayworth and elevate solutions to campaign finance corruption.

Rep. Hayworth was selected as a “Foe of Democracy” for her pay-to-play track record, and her votes opposing campaign finance reform. The eight ‘foes’ also include: Representatives Charlie Bass (NH-02), David Rivera (FL-26), Francisco Conseco (TX-23), Mary Bono Mack (CA-36), Dan Lungren (CA-07), Ann Marie Buerkle (NY-24), and Jim Renacci (OH-16).

Friends of Democracy, a Super PAC working to end the corrosive affect of money on politics, was co-founded by Jonathan Soros along with veteran political strategists and campaign finance reform advocates Ilyse Hogue and David Donnelly.

“Rep. Nan Hayworth exemplifies the problem with pay-to-play politics. She took in a quarter-million-dollars from the insurance industry while voting against equal coverage for women under the healthcare law,” said Ilyse Hogue. “With records like that, it’s no wonder corruption in government ranks at the top of issues voters care about this election.”

Friends of Democracy will target persuadable voters in NY’s 18th Congressional District who are responsive on the issue of political corruption with consistent and comprehensive in-district advertising. Based on a successful pilot project in August, the effort will reach enough voters in the district to potentially shift the final vote tally.

“Voters have listed corruption as their second highest concern after job creation and with good reason. Billions of dollars of special interest money dictate who gets elected and predicts whose side candidates are on once they get to Congress,” said David Donnelly. “Confidence in Congress is collapsing. We cannot afford any more bought and paid for politicians who refuse to challenge the status quo, which is why we cannot afford to re-elect Rep. Hayworth.”

A sample mailer can be seen here: www.friendsofdemocracypac.org/hayworth.

A poll released Monday by Democracy Corps and Public Campaign Action Fund of voters in the 54 most competitive House districts found 78% of voters say it is personally important to them for candidates to promote a plan to fix the broken campaign finance system. A full report of the polling can be found at http://campaignmoney.org/sites/friendsofdemocracypac/files/PCAF-DCorps-Memo.pdf. An earlier Gallup poll found the issue of corruption in government second only to jobs for 2012 voters.

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