Conservative advocacy group to launch robocalls against Mitchell, Giffords

Freedom's Watch, the conservative advocacy group, is launching about three dozen robocalls over the next week targeting U.S. House members across the country, including several vulnerable incumbents in Arizona, PolitickerAZ.com has learned.

The target list for the robocalls includes Democratic Reps. Harry Mitchell and Gabrielle Giffords, among a host of other members of Congress.

The calls start off by reminding recipients of current gas prices and emphasizing how the prices affect the cost of food. The calls also stress the potential for domestic drilling and mention that the member in question has voted against exploration on the continental shelf.

After Freedom's Watch launched in 2007, it initially focused its efforts on conveying a national security message. But the new robocalls underscore how the organization is switching to a more economic-focused message that is aimed at blue collar areas.

"We're absolutely going to be concentrating on economic issues," said Freedom's Watch spokesman Ed Patru. In honing in on gas prices, Patru argued, Freedom's Watch was picking an issue in which the divide between conservatives and liberals was stark.

Carrie James, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, predicted the calls would have little effect on voters.

"People want long-term solutions to sky-rocketing gas prices," she said. "Democrats in congress have been fighting for ways to become more energy independent and reduce prices at the pump for American families."

The rest of Freedom Watch's preliminary target list includes: Jason Altmire, Chris Carney, and Paul Kanjorsky from Pennsylvania, New York Rep. Kristen Gillibrand, Ohio Rep. Zach Space, California Rep. Jerry McNerney, Florida Rep. Tim Mahoney, Georgia Rep. Jim Marshall, Illinois Rep. Melissa Bean, Kansas Reps. Nancy Boyda and Dennis Moore, Kentucky Rep. John Yarmuth, Texas Reps. Nick Lampson and Ciro Rodriguez, Wisconsin Rep. Steve Kagen, and New Hampshire Reps. Carol Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes.

Freedom's Watch had previously launched three sets of robocalls. In May, the organization unleashed calls focusing on troop funding. The organization put out another military-focused set of calls earlier this month. And several weeks ago, Freedom's Watch launched calls focused on Senate incumbents.