Progressive group launches ad urging Sen. Reid to include public option in reform legislation

"The Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) launched an ad urging Sen. Harry Reid to muscle through a public option as part of healthcare reform," The Hill's Blog Briefing Room reports (Zimmerman, 10/19).

The PCCC released its ad Monday "in Nevada, where Reid face[s] re-election next year, and sent an email to 225,000 activists nationwide seeking to raise at least $100,000 online to air the spot 200 times," according to Boston Globe's Political Intelligence blog (Rhee, 10/19).

CNN's Political Ticker writes: Reid "is taking heat in his home state from liberal activists upset over the likelihood that the final Senate health care bill will not include a public option. ... The 30-second commercial features a longtime Nevada nurse, Lee Slaughter, whose health care is refusing to pay for complications dealing with broken hips. 'I…voted for Senator Harry Reid many times,' Slaughter says. 'But in 2010, I'll only be voting on one issue. I'm watching to see if Harry Reid is strong and effective enough as a leader to pass a public health insurance option into law.' The spot comes 5 days after Reid went up with two campaign ads in Nevada ... as the four-term senator braces for what will likely be tough re-election fight" (Mooney, 10/19).