WASHINGTON - American Leadership Project, the pro-Hillary Clinton 527 group that ran ads in key primary states during the heated Democratic nominating contest, is re-launching its efforts this week with a new target: presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain.

Timed to coincide with the Democratic National Convention, the organization is airing a 60-second radio ad in Colorado questioning the Arizona senator’s record on energy issues.

“With Colorado’s working families struggling to make ends meet, Big Oil companies are enjoying record profits, “ an announcer says in the spot. “The John McCain solution? More money for Big Oil. More problems for us. “

“McCain wants to drill along our coastline, which experts say won’t produce oil until 2018,” the ad continues. “But he’s repeatedly opposed incentives for proven renewable energies like wind and solar power. McCain voted against requiring Big Oil to invest their windfall profits in clean energy and new jobs. But he supports a $4 billion tax break for America’s five richest oil companies. That’s not a path to energy independence.”

The ad is set to air Saturday through Friday in both English and in Spanish in the Denver, Colorado Springs and Grand Junction media markets. The ad buy totals $100,000.

American Leadership Project opened its doors in late February at a time when Clinton, hobbled by a string of primary losses, saw her campaign bank account dwindle. A soft money group, the organization quickly raised $3.58 million, much of it from organized labor, and ran $3.25 million worth of advertisements on the New York senator’s behalf.

As a 527 group, American Leadership Project is not allowed to explicitly advocate for or against a particular candidate. During the crucial Ohio, Texas, and Pennsylvania primaries the organization ran ads that, without mentioning Barack Obama’s or Clinton’s names, echoed one of Clinton’s main lines of attack against the Illinois senator: speeches don’t solve problems.

The launch of the anti-McCain spot marks something of a refocusing for the organization. But the organization is retaining its emphasis on working-class issues.

Asked about the ad Thursday afternoon, American Leadership Project chair Jason Kinney said, “Given our national economic train-wreck, it’s important that the voice of working-class families continues to be heard loudly and clearly across this country. What better time and place to launch this effort than at this historic Democratic convention?”

American Leadership Project is led by two leading California-based consultants. Roger Salazar, the organization’s spokesperson, served as press secretary on Al Gore’s presidential campaign. Kinney was a top aide to former California Gov. Grey Davis.

In an interview, Kinney declined to discuss the future sources of American Leadership Project’s funding or how much money the group was willing to commit from now until Election Day. Kinney also declined to elaborate on the group’s plans or whether American Leadership Project would be hitting the television airwaves once again.