Multimillion-dollar ad buy hits Obama over Solyndra controversy

The group Americans for Prosperity is bankrolling swing-state TV ads that knock President Obama over the $535 million loan guarantee to the failed solar company Solyndra, a sign that conservative activists hope to turn the issue into a campaign liability.

The group — which is linked to the conservative Koch brothers — launched ads Wednesday that are running in Florida, Michigan, Virginia and New Mexico.

The buy will total over $2.4 million over the next two weeks, and the ads will air in “every major media market” in the states, including both network and cable spots, the group said. The ad can be viewed here.

“This is the single biggest campaign AFP has launched so far this year, and is a good indicator of what we intend for 2012,” said Levi Russell, the group’s public-affairs director. 

Russell said the ads will be supplemented by a "robust social media campaign" and other efforts by the group, which is attacking what it calls "Obama's green energy scam."

“Wealthy donors with ties to Solyndra give Obama hundreds of thousands of dollars. What does Obama give them in return? Half a billion in taxpayer money to help his friends at Solyndra,” the ad states. It goes on to question other loan guarantees.

“Risking billions of taxpayer dollars to help his political donors. Is this the change we are supposed to believe in?” the ad says.

The new ads arrive a day before House Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans, who are investigating Solyndra’s collapse, are expected to vote to issue subpoenas for internal White House communications about the company.

Obama administration officials reject allegations that they injected politics into loan guarantee decisions, arguing that applications are vetted on the merits by career Energy Department officials.

The Republican investigation has not uncovered evidence of political favoritism. 

A series of emails released by the committee show that the White House pressed administration officials to make a swift decision on the Solyndra loan guarantee. They also show that there was disagreement within the administration on the wisdom of approving the guarantee.

Americans for Prosperity was founded by David Koch, who along with his brother helms Koch Industries and supports right-leaning political causes.

The group opposes regulation of greenhouse gases, and is working with other organizations — the Institute for Energy Research and the American Energy Alliance — on a campaign that calls for wider U.S. oil-and-gas development.

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