The Trail

TRIPLE THREAT

Clinton Gets Support From 3 Major Players

To get a sense of the sophistication and sheer muscle of the machinery lined up behind Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential bid in Iowa, consider this: Three of the largest players in national politics have launched efforts on her behalf, with each tackling a different critical task.

The American Federation of Teachers AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education reported Thursday that it has spent $281,114 on radio ads promoting Clinton in Iowa. On Wednesday, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees unveiled television ads it began airing in Iowa promoting Clinton, the beginning of what it said would be a seven-figure expenditure. And earlier this week, the national political group Emily's List introduced a huge get-out-the-vote effort that involves surveys and a new Web site aimed at drawing probable Clinton supporters to participate in the Iowa caucuses.

For these efforts, all three groups have enlisted the services of a boutique media consultant that specializes in political message development -- Chicago-based Adelstein/Liston. "Our intent is to deliver a very strong message for a very strong candidate," said Ann Liston, a principal in the firm.

None of the groups is legally permitted to coordinate with the Clinton campaign to design this effort, and each said it had not. "We have not and would not take any direction from them at all," said Eric Smith, of AFT. But coordinating with one another is a different matter.

The Federal Election Commission has typically allowed separate independent groups to coordinate their activities, said Scott Thomas, a former FEC chairman.

The groups made an interesting choice of media firm to design the message. Eric Adelstein worked for Bill Clinton in 1992. Liston worked previously for Emily's List. Together, they worked on the 2000 campaign of Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.). That was the year he defeated a challenger named Barack Obama.

-- Matthew Mosk

NO FAITH IN CANDIDATE