Spots urge Ohio pols to back Iraq war

New commercials running on Youngstown’s WFMJ-TV (21) urge Congress not to “surrender” and pull troops out of Iraq. The spots, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer, are paid for by a non-profit group called “Freedom’s Watch.” It has close ties to President Bush, and its board of directors includes several former campaign fundraisers and former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer.

The spots are apparently aimed at Republican congressmen who might be wavering in their support of the increasingly unpopular U.S. occupation of Iraq. The PD believes the Youngstown targets are U.S. Senator George Voinovich and Rep. Steve LaTourette.