McConnell-linked group funds ads helping NC Dem
RALEIGH, N.C. — A political committee linked to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is funding ads and other campaign materials designed to meddle in North Carolina’s Democratic Senate primary, the group acknowledged Friday.
Campaign finance documents filed late Thursday show the Faith and Power PAC receiving all of its money so far — $2.95 million — from the Senate Leadership Fund, which is connected to the Kentucky Republican and designed to help the GOP retain its majority in the chamber.
The PAC, which was just created last month, has run ads that appear to be aimed at boosting the fortunes of state Sen. Erica Smith at the expense of former state Sen. Cal Cunningham, a favorite of the party establishment. Cunningham was endorsed months ago by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Cunningham’s campaign has decidedly outraised Smith so far.
The DSCC is targeting a handful of seats to retake the Senate, including the one held by North Carolina Republican incumbent Thom Tillis.
The Faith and Power PAC, which is linked to a private mailbox in Jacksonville, North Carolina, began running an ad this month urging voters in the March 3 Democratic primary to back Smith, citing her support for a form of “Medicare for All” and the Green New Deal. Early in-person voting for the primary began Feb. 13.
A more recent commercial from the PAC also attempts to portray Cunningham as too moderate on gun and LGBT issues. Cunningham started running a response commercial that referred to “deceptive ads” that are “just not true.”
Cunningham’s campaign said he still differs from Smith by opposing Medicare for All and the Green New Deal.
Before campaign reports were filed on Thursday, Democrats already were convinced the PAC’s money originated from Republicans, who were trying to force Cunningham or his allies to spend more money helping him win. The PAC’s ad buyer and bank already were linked to GOP and conservative causes.
Senate Leadership Fund President Steven Law, a former McConnell chief of staff, sought to portray the contributions as a new twist on an old effort by Democrats to interfere in Republican Senate primaries. Six years ago, the campaign of then-Sen. Kay Hagan, a Democrat, spent money against Tillis on mailers while he tried to win his crowded primary. The Senate Majority PAC, linked to then-Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, ran primary TV ads attacking Tillis for troubles in his office while he was state House speaker.
“We stole a page out of (Senate Minority Leader) Chuck Schumer’s playbook, and it’s been more successful than we could have imagined,” Law said in a statement Friday. “We got a lot more for our money than when Democrats spent millions in Thom Tillis’ primary six years ago.”
Outside groups, including the DSCC, and Cunningham’s committee have reported spending over $10 million to date in support of Cunningham’s candidacy, according to campaign finance filings.