Obama political arm now targets House Dems and GOP on healthcare

President Obama’s political arm, Organizing for America (OFA), expanded its pro-healthcare reform ad campaign to target vulnerable House Republicans and centrist Democrats.

OFA said Saturday that it’d expanded the ad buy of their “It’s Time” ad to 15 additional markets beyond its initial state ad buys it had made to pressure centrist senators in both parties into supporting healthcare reform legislation.

The move puts the OFA message on air in the backyards of a number of Republicans who may face tough reelection battles in 2010, and on-air in the districts of Democrats who have been on the fence about supporting healthcare reform.

“Millions of Americans lose their health insurance when they lose their job, are denied care because of a pre-existing condition, and delay care or skip medication because they can’t afford it,” OFA Director Mitch Stewart said in a statement. “It’s time to reform our health care system to lower costs, preserve patient choice and ensure that all Americans have access to quality, affordable care.”

A partial list of the lawmakers whose districts will be hit by the OFA ad buy includes:

• Savannah, – Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.)
• Palm Springs, Calif. – Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.)
• Seattle – Dave Reichert (R-Wash.)
• Nashville – Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.)
• Bloomington – Baron Hill (D-Ind.)
• Sacramento – Dan Lungren (R-Calif.)
• Salt Lake City – Jim Matheson (D-Utah)
• New Orleans – Ahn “Joseph” Cao (R-La.)
• Pittsburgh – Tim Murphy (R-Pa.), Mike Doyle (D-Pa.), John Murtha (D-Pa.), Jason Altmire (D-Pa.)
• Charlotte – Larry Kissell (D-N.C.)
• Little Rock – Vic Snyder (D-Ark.)
• Columbus – Mary Jo Kilroy (D-Ohio)
• Marquette, Mich. – Bart Stupak (D-Mich.)
• Grand Rapids, Mich. – Vern Ehlers (R-Mich.), Pate Hoekstra (R-Mich.)
• Medford, Ore. – Greg Walden (R-Ore.)