Buoyed by heavy turnout in primary elections and record-setting campaign fundraising for Democrats, liberal activists just unveiled a $350 million effort to bolster progressive candidates, register voters and mobilize turnout for the general election.

The strategy was put forth at the Take Back America conference by an informal group of liberal and non-ideological groups ranging from the AFL-CIO and MoveOn.org to ACORN, Rock The Vote and the National Council of La Raza.

"We believe that 2008 has the potential of being not simply a change election, but a sea change election not seen since 1980," said Robert Borosage, co-director of the Campaign for America's Future, which sponsored the conference. Mr. Borosage said the informal push would create the "real muscle" behind their movement to take the White House and expand the Democratic majorities in Congress.

At today's press conference, he also expressed worries that the media and some movement liberals would focus more on party infighting in the race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and fail to tap into the groundswell of enthusiasm seen thus far in the primary season.

Karen Ackerman, political director of the AFL-CIO, said her organization would be spending $53.4 million in addition to $146.6 million from other unions on voter education and registration drives.

Ms. Ackerman said this amount "pales in comparison to what corporate America will spend," though she hopes a network of some 300,000 AFL-CIO volunteers will help make up the difference.

— Carrie Sheffield, Web editor, The Washington Times