America Coming Together

America Coming Together (ACT) was a liberal, political action, 527 group dedicated to get-out-the-vote activities. ACT did not specifically endorse any political party, but mostly worked on behalf of Democratic candidates. It was the largest 527 group in 2004 and was planning to be involved in future races. The group was primarily funded by Peter Lewis, George Soros, and labor unions, especially the Service Employees International Union, and was led by Steve Rosenthal, a former political director of the AFL-CIO.

In the last three weeks before the 2004 presidential and congressional elections, ACT planned on funding over 12 million phone calls to targeted voters and having canvassers hand-deliver 11 million pieces of literature at targeted doorsteps. On Election Day, ACT had projected to have 45,000 paid canvassers in the battleground states and spent over $10 million on Election Day. It had 86 offices open every day, a staff of 4000 and a goal of reinforcing the army of 45,000 paid canvassers with 25,000 volunteers.

In the fall of 2004, ACT was featured in the Frontline Documentary, [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/persuaders/ "The Persuaders"] , which described ACT's use of narrowcasting.

In 2005 ACT was in the process of being wound down. [cite news
last =Edsall
first =Thomas B.
title =Soros-Backed Activist Group Disbands as Interest Fades
work =Washington Post
pages =A06
publisher =The Washington Post Company
date =2005-08-03
url =http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/02/AR2005080201849.html
accessdate =2007-09-21 ] Its website was not renewed and is no longer operational.

The Federal Election Commission announced on August 29, 2007, that it had reached a settlement agreement with ACT for violations of various federal campaign finance laws during the 2004 US presidential campaign. ACT has agreed to pay $775,000 in fines. [FEC Press Release August 29, 2007 http://www.fec.gov/press/press2007/20070829act.shtml]

References

External links

* [http://www.opensecrets.org/527s/527events.asp?orgid=10 Opensecrets.org ACT Profile]