A group of Democratic House campaign veterans are forming their own independent expenditure group aimed at countering the influence conservative groups played last cycle in congressional elections.
Spearheaded by a trio of former Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee operatives, the House Majority PAC is launching this week with the goal to help win the back the House for Democrats. It's part of a larger effort of Democratic-aligned groups for the 2012 cycle, who were largely caught off-guard in 2010 by the heavy-spending of GOP-aligned groups such as American Crossroads.
Spearheaded by a trio of former Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee operatives, the House Majority PAC is launching this week with the goal to help win the back the House for Democrats. It's part of a larger effort of Democratic-aligned groups for the 2012 cycle, who were largely caught off-guard in 2010 by the heavy-spending of GOP-aligned groups such as American Crossroads.
Democratic groups outside of the traditional party committee structure have pledged to spend upwards of $120 million to influence the upcoming elections.
Ali Lapp will be the group's executive director, and for now is the only full-time staff member, although the group plans to expand. Lapp was the DCCC's campaign director during the 2006 campaign cycle, when Democrats successfully won the majority. She was also the longtime chief of staff to Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.).
"The House Majority PAC is committed to building a long-term organization that can take on the Republican outside groups in the battle for the House Majority," Lapp said in a statement. "Our objective is to help the Democrats win back the House. We will hold Republican incumbents and candidates accountable for their policies that take our country in the wrong direction."
Nicole Runge is also on board to spearhead the group's fundraising, and worked at the DCCC from 2003 until 2009, serving as managing director of finance and marketing during the 2008 cycle. Ryan Rudominer, who was the DCCC's national press secretary during the 2010 elections, will also work with the group. Rudominer has also worked for former Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) and now-current DCCC Chair Steve Israel (D-N.Y.). The group is organized as a "super PAC," meaning donors can give unlimited amounts to the organization, but donors must be reported to the Federal Election Commission. In a memo outlining their mission, the group estimates that last cycle Republicans had a $26.4 million advantage over Democrats thanks to independent expenditure groups, influencing close elections in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Much like the DCCC has been doing, the group plans to target members over recent budget votes and turn an eye toward the Republican-held districts President Obama won in 2008 and ones where John Kerry won in 2004. And they plan to start right away, with their first ad buy over the upcoming Easter recess, with details of the inaugural blitz announced later.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2011/04/democratic-operatives-launch-superpac-13
Ali Lapp will be the group's executive director, and for now is the only full-time staff member, although the group plans to expand. Lapp was the DCCC's campaign director during the 2006 campaign cycle, when Democrats successfully won the majority. She was also the longtime chief of staff to Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.).
"The House Majority PAC is committed to building a long-term organization that can take on the Republican outside groups in the battle for the House Majority," Lapp said in a statement. "Our objective is to help the Democrats win back the House. We will hold Republican incumbents and candidates accountable for their policies that take our country in the wrong direction."
Nicole Runge is also on board to spearhead the group's fundraising, and worked at the DCCC from 2003 until 2009, serving as managing director of finance and marketing during the 2008 cycle. Ryan Rudominer, who was the DCCC's national press secretary during the 2010 elections, will also work with the group. Rudominer has also worked for former Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) and now-current DCCC Chair Steve Israel (D-N.Y.). The group is organized as a "super PAC," meaning donors can give unlimited amounts to the organization, but donors must be reported to the Federal Election Commission. In a memo outlining their mission, the group estimates that last cycle Republicans had a $26.4 million advantage over Democrats thanks to independent expenditure groups, influencing close elections in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Much like the DCCC has been doing, the group plans to target members over recent budget votes and turn an eye toward the Republican-held districts President Obama won in 2008 and ones where John Kerry won in 2004. And they plan to start right away, with their first ad buy over the upcoming Easter recess, with details of the inaugural blitz announced later.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2011/04/democratic-operatives-launch-superpac-13