Obama allies now target Democrats in budget battle

A campaign to persuade Republicans to support President Obama's budget is morphing into something broader, with the White House political machine and its allies now focusing pressure on conservative Democrats and anyone else who might be tempted to vote no.

Targeted Democrats are balking at some of the tactics being deployed, a sign that campaign methods so effective in getting Obama elected may not be easily transferable to the policy realm.

Earlier this month, ads underwritten by Obama allies were directed against Republican lawmakers opposed to the president's budget. This week, the group Americans United for Change is running cable TV ads in what it describes as "12 targeted states represented by Republican and Democratic members of Congress."

And MoveOn.org is running radio and Internet ads focused on 10 Democratic members of the House and Senate considered potential no votes.

A White House official said that mobilizing outside groups is crucial to Obama's agenda.

On a parallel track, Obama's campaign group, now called "Organizing for America," is using ZIP codes to reach supporters and ask them to call the person representing them in Congress.

Democratic lawmakers contend the ads won't work. Sen. Evan Bayh, an Indiana Democrat, said that none of the TV advertising would influence his vote. And he questioned whether the ads are consistent with the president's promise of collaboration.

She also will go before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Tuesday in what's being billed as a courtesy hearing.

President Obama will talk about regulatory reform, risks to the financial system and executive bonuses when he meets top bankers today, the White House said.

"Wall Street and Main Street, all of us, are in the same boat together," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

He said Obama would receive an update from top bank chief executives "on precisely what they're seeing" in the troubled financial sector. The forum will include executives from Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, PNC Financial Services Group, Goldman Sachs, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, US Bancorp, Wells Fargo & Co., Northern Trust Corp., and Bank of New York Mellon Corp.

The Obama administration is ramping up efforts to reach out to the financial community to ensure its participation in government plans to stabilize the financial system.

"I want you to know that I will always be listening and my administration is working hard so that we can expand opportunity for all Americans," he said in a message broadcast during the "Premio Lo Nuestro" show on the Univision Spanish-language television network.

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Democrats pushed a recession-era budget backed by the Obama administration through Senate and House committees on Thursday even as GOP critics sharpened their attacks. The party-line votes came as Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., derided the plan as "the most irresponsible budget in the history of the Republic."

The Senate plan calls for spending of $3.5 trillion for the year that begins Oct. 1, and assumes a deficit of $1.2 trillion. It includes increases for hundreds of domestic programs and clears the way for major legislation later in the year on President Obama's priorities of health care, energy and education.

The House version calls for spending $3.6 trillion in the budget year that begins Oct. 1, according to the Congressional Budget Office, compared with $3.7 trillion for Obama's plan.