Edelman PR Worldwide is organizing Americans for Sensible Estate Tax Solutions, a group that is fighting the repeal of the estate tax.

The group is bankrolled by financial services companies and charitable groups. It wants to get rid of the estate tax for most Americans affected by it, while reducing the rate for others.

That's because total repeal of the estate tax may result in the need for fewer tax shelters for the rich, and reduced donations to charities. Eric Hoffman, a VP at Edelman in Washington, D.C., is serving as spokesperson for the group.

Leslie Dach, Edelman vice chairman and D.C. general manager, is also working on the account, according to Hoffman.

The fight over the estate tax--which Republicans refer to as a "death tax"-- became front page news for The New York Times on Feb. 14.

The paper reported on a petition signed by 120 wealthy Americans urging Congress to oppose President Bush's goal of phasing out the estate tax by 2009.

That effort is being organized as United for a Fair Economy by William Gates, father of Microsoft's Bill Gates.

Axing the repeal tax, believes UFE, would "enrich the heirs of America's millionaires and billionaires while hurting families who struggle to make ends meet."

UFE, which counts David Rockefeller among its members, ran an op-ed piece in the Feb. 18 Times to outline its position. More ads in nine key states are in the works.

ASETS is mulling its own grassroots campaign and advertising push.