FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — An Appalachian coal company is asking its competitors to pool their money for a political offensive against Democrats in Kentucky and West Virginia they believe are anti-coal.



International Coal Group wants other mining companies to take advantage of a U.S. Supreme Court decision loosening restrictions on corporate contributions to political causes.



ICG Senior Vice President Roger Nicholson said in an e-mail he wanted to target Democratic U.S. Reps. Ben Chandler of Kentucky and Nick Rahall of West Virginia, and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jack Conway in Kentucky.



"A number of coal industry representatives recently have been considering developing a 527 entity with the purpose of attempting to defeat anti-coal incumbents in select races, as well as elect pro-coal candidates running for certain open seats," he said in the e-mail.



The e-mail was first reported by the Lexington Herald-Leader.