A coalition of progressive groups has launched a new antiwar campaign linking the Iraq invasion and occupation to the ailing US economy. The “Iraq/Recession” campaign includes MoveOn, the Center for American Progress Action Fund and VoteVets. An ad from VoteVets features Iraq war veteran Rose Forrest criticizing Republican frontrunner John McCain.

Rose Forrest: John McCain says it’s OK with him if the US spends the next thousand years in Iraq. That’s some commitment to the Iraqi people, Senator McCain. This is [my son]. He was born a year after he came home from Iraq. What kind of commitment are you making to him? How about a thousand years of affordable healthcare or a thousand years of keeping America safe? Can we afford that for my child, Senator McCain? Or have you already promised to spend trillions in Baghdad?”

A recent Associated Press poll shows 70 percent of Americans believe an Iraq withdrawal would help the US economy.