USA TODAY International Edition
Campaign shifts, showing support for super PAC
Candidate had expressed derision for wealthy donors
Republican Donald Trump spent months denouncing rich donors, but in a sharp reversal Wednesday, his campaign endorsed a super PAC committed to putting him in the White House.
Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort called into a meeting of about 20 potential donors to express support for Rebuilding America Now, and Trump’s vice presidential nominee, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, went further, providing a written statement that the group’s organizers used in a slideshow presentation for contributors, Ken McKay, one of the super PAC’s strategists, told USA TODAY.
McKay said Trump campaign officials provided Pence’s statement in which the governor described the super PAC as “one of the best ways to stop Hillary Clinton and help elect Donald Trump our next president.”
Marty Obst, Pence’s director of operations, attended the gather- ing at a Ritz Carlton in downtown Cleveland, McKay said.
Trump aides did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The development came on the third day of the Republican National Convention hours before Pence was set to address delegates.
Trump’s about- face underscores the urgent need for the real estate tycoon to quickly inject more money into the contest after largely self- funding his primary bid.
Trump has lagged Clinton in campaign money.
A super PAC supporting her campaign, Priorities USA Action, reported Wednesday that it had raised nearly $ 100 million during the election cycle.
The group has blistered Trump with attack ads and ended June with more than $ 40 million cash on hand to keep up the barrage.
McKay said Republican donors are beginning to feel a sense of urgency. “People want to get in this fight,” he said. He said two people have “put in motion” contributions this week, and he expects more.
McKay, a former top campaign aide to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and veteran Republican strategist Alex Castellanos run the super PAC, which has ties to California investment manager Thomas Barrack, a longtime Trump friend.
Barrack hosted Trump’s first major campaign fundraiser and has donated more than $ 400,000 to Trump’s joint fundraising efforts with the Republican National Committee.