People For the American Way Foundation will launch three new ads in the television battle over the filibuster, as the clash over the 200-year-old Senate practice nears a historic vote.

The three ads are targeted to moderate Senate Republicans considered key to the outcome of the battle in Pennsylvania, Alaska and Maine, and will begin airing in those markets, Washington, DC and on national cable television on Sunday and Monday.

The sound of a ticking clock over a stark white background asks the Senators to demonstrate their political independence, and vote to protect the Constitution and the 200-year-old system of checks and balances.

“These ads appeal to the fundamental respect Americans feel for the wisdom of the founding fathers. They established a system where no one party can ever gain absolute power, and where minority voices are always protected and will be heard,” said Ralph G. Neas, PFAWF President.

“The nuclear option vote will define the future of the Senate and the future of representative democracy. It will also define these Senators, as they decide the most important institutional vote in the history of the Senate.”

As soon as Tuesday, the Senate is poised to consider several Bush Administration appellate court nominees who were filibustered during the last session of Congress. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is threatening to detonate the “nuclear option” using one of these nominees at any point after the nominations come to the floor.

PFAWF is continuing to run ads produced earlier in the campaign in target markets, and plans to spend roughly $1 million in the coming week.

“We remain confident that a bipartisan majority of Senators will reject the nuclear option and vote to preserve our constitutional system of checks and balances,” Neas said.