"Target and other big corporations are trying to buy our elections," a male announcer says in the 30-second spot.

"But if we all work together, we can stop them," he says, then adds, "Boycott Target. Our democracy is not up for sale."

The Minnesota-based business apologized two weeks ago for contributing $150,000 to MN Forward, an independent political fund supporting Tom Emmer, the anti-gay Republican nominee for Minnesota governor. But on Monday, the company rejected a request from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest gay rights advocate, to give an equal amount of money to a pro-gay candidate.

In announcing its new ad, MoveOn. org  chided Target for "meddling in our democracy" and refusing to "acknowledge its customers' outrage." The group said corporate money in elections amounted to "political bribery."

"[A]nd we're not going to stop targeting Target until they stop trying to buy our elections," the group said.

On Monday, after nearly a month of increasing pressure - from social conservative and progressive groups alike - the company refused to take any action.

"We believe that it is impossible to avoid turning any further actions into a political issue," Target said in a statement.

Facebook groups both supporting and opposing the boycott have attracted thousands of members.

Electronics giant Best Buy Co. and other Minnesota-based businesses - including Red Wing Shoes and Polaris Industries, Inc., a manufacturer of snowmobiles - are also being criticized for contributing to MN Forward. However, Target gave the most money and has a strong history of supporting the gay community.

After a Target protest at a Chicago-area store, Illinois State Representative Greg Harris, who is openly gay, told gay website ChicagoPride. com: "Companies like Target need to understand that they can't have it both ways when it comes to issues of our basic rights, and that the facts will eventually come out."

Complicating matters is Target's current bid to open two stores in the epicenter of the gay rights movement, San Francisco, where the retailer's actions have some city leaders concerned.