By wplog

Published Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007 | 11:28 a.m.

Updated Monday, Dec. 29, 2008 | 2:26 p.m.

Freedom's Watch, the conservative advocacy group with ties to Las Vegas Sands Corp. chairman and world's sixth-richest man Sheldon Adelson, launched a print ad campaign today, targeting seven members of Congress in newspapers across the country.

Earlier this year, the group aired $15 million worth of TV ads in tossup congressional districts, including Nevada's 3rd District, where Republican Jon Porter faces a potentially tough challenge from Clark County prosecutor Robert Daskas, who has tried the region's biggest cases.

The ads urged members of Congress to support the war in Iraq until victory is achieved, and the print campaign has a similar focus, saying Congressional representatives should "stop playing politics" and "fund the troops." Porter is not a target in today's print campaign. The full-page ad features an open letter to a member of Congress and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, penned by Andrew Robinson, an Iraq war veteran, who is pictured in a wheelchair.

The group has significant Nevada ties: Adelson has been a major contributor to the group, and Las Vegas image maven Sig Rogich, a Sands consultant, helped in the effort, which was meant to counteract resurgent American liberalism, and particularly MoveOn.org.

Freedom's Watch's five board members include Sands President William Weidner.

*UPDATE:

Freedom's Watch has responded:

Asked if Nevada Rep. Jon Porter was off the group's target list, a spokesman demurred. "We will monitor and make a decision as events unfold," said Freedom's Watch spokesman Matt David.

Congressional Democrats are still working on a bill to provide a fresh infusion of money for the Iraq war, while at the same time requiring Bush to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq.

The House could vote on a war funding measure as early as tomorrow.

Still, Democrats tried a similar strategy in the spring -- linking war funding with a troop withdrawal -- only to have President Bush veto the bill. For his part, Porter has been firm in his support for the Bush administration's Iraq war policy and is unlikely to waver.

He voted against the funding measure in the spring.