WASHINGTON — Looking to boost Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's sagging fortunes, a group of Democratic political strategists has assembled an organization that will raise money from wealthy donors and run ads promoting her views in Texas and Ohio.

Called the American Leadership Project, the organization has been formed as a so-called 527 committee, which can raise unlimited amounts of money from some of Clinton's most deep-pocketed benefactors.

The group is targeting Texas and Ohio, the battleground states that hold primaries on March 4 and are considered Clinton's last best chance to keep her campaign alive against a surging Barack Obama. By law, the group cannot coordinate its activities with Clinton.

"We want to shine a light on issues that matter most to the nation's middle class _ health care, freezing foreclosures, those sorts of things," Roger Salazar, the president of the new group, said in an interview. "Obviously Senator Clinton is a recognized champion on these issues."

The group, whose principals are mostly in California, has already prepared at least one ad to begin airing in Ohio. It does not mention Obama, but it echoes what has become Clinton's refrain that while Obama gives speeches, she offers solutions.

"If speeches could create jobs, we wouldn't be facing a recession," the ad's narrator says. "But it takes more. As senator, Hillary Clinton passed legislation to bring investment and jobs to struggling communities and worked to end tax breaks for corporations sending jobs overseas. Her economic blueprint is endorsed by (Ohio) Governor (Ted) Strickland. Tell Hillary to keep working on these solutions for the middle class."

Salazar said the group intends to keep its message positive.

The existence of the group was first reported Wednesday in the political blog of The Atlantic magazine.

Clinton donors and political operatives have been discussing the possibility of such an outside group to help her campaign since she lost the Iowa caucuses in early January. The effort gained more attention as Clinton began to lose contests after the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday elections. Obama has won 10 contests since Super Tuesday, elevating Ohio and Texas to make-or-break status for Clinton.

Obama outraised Clinton dramatically in January and has outspent her in February contests. Clinton had to lend her campaign $5 million at the end of January.

Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said he was unaware of the group's activities. "I don't know anything about it," he said.

Under Internal Revenue Service and Federal Election Commission regulations, 527 organizations can raise unlimited amounts of money to advocate issues to voters. The name 527 refers to the section of the IRS code that authorizes their existence. The ads from such a group cannot specifically call for Clinton's election or Obama's defeat.

The FEC, however, has recently applied a tougher standard to such organizations and has fined several of them for not registering as political action committees. Such a committee can only raise contributions from individuals of $5,000 or less.

Salazar said the American Leadership Project would file public reports with regulators listing its donors and the amounts they spend. The group also must file reports listing their expenditures.

According to IRS records, the group registered as a 527 organization on Feb. 15.

Salazar was national spokesman for John Edwards' 2004 presidential campaign and was press secretary for former California Gov. Gray Davis during his 2002 re-election campaign. Other strategists involved in the effort are Jason Kinney, a California consultant who will serve as chairman of the new organization, and Washington consultant Erick Mullen, who served as an informal adviser to Clinton during her first Senate campaign and who is married to former Clinton White House aide Kelly Craighead.

Clinton has received outside help from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the American Federation of Teachers and Emily's List, a political organization that assists female candidates who support abortion rights. This new group appears to be the first 527 organization to come to her aid.

A 527 group financed by Obama supporters spent more than $1 million assisting Obama going into Super Tuesday and a union-backed 527 ran ads on behalf of Edwards in Iowa.

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On the Net: http://www.youtube.com/user/AmLeadershipProject