Environmentalists and others supporting climate-change legislation are outspending the measure's opponents in the television advertising skirmish underway in advance of Senate action this month, new data show.

Supporters of the plan to curb greenhouse-gas emissions spent $2.9 million in August as they seek to renew interest in legislation overshadowed by the contentious battle over President Obama's health care initiative. That's $1 million more than what opponents spent, according to Evan Tracey, who tracks political advertising at the Campaign Media Analysis Group.

The surge in spending during the lawmakers' August recess put the proponents ahead overall. They have spent $8 million in support of the measure since Jan. 1, compared with $7.4 million by those opposed . . .

Also spending heavily: the American Values Network, a religious advocacy group that has pumped about $400,000 into an advertising and e-mail blitz in support of the bill in 14 states, including ads on Christian, country and talk radio.

Executive Director Eric Sapp said he hopes to spend another $400,000 this fall, much of it aimed at senators from manufacturing states that "will come under the most pressure" to oppose the bill.

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