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A4 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 22 February 2020
McConnell-linked group funds

ads helping N Carolina Democrat

By GARY D. ROBERTSON were filed on Thursday, work and I'll see you in No-
Associated Press Democrats already were vember."
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A convinced the PAC's mon- Smith, whose campaign
political committee linked ey originated from Repub- didn't respond to a text
to Senate Majority Leader licans, who were trying to seeking comment, tweet-
Mitch McConnell is funding force Cunningham or his ed: "We have the support
ads and other campaign allies to spend more money of the people, and I am
materials designed to helping him win. The PAC's here to serve the people
meddle in North Carolina's ad buyer and bank al- not the PACs."
In this Feb. 11, 2020, file photo, Senate Majority Leader Mitch Democratic Senate pri- ready were linked to GOP Other politically-minded
McConnell, R-Ky., talks to reporters following a GOP strategy mary, the group acknowl- and conservative causes. groups have attempted to
meeting at the Capitol in Washington. edged on Friday. Senate Leadership Fund influence the Senate pri-
Associated Press Campaign finance docu- President Steven Law, a maries of competing par-
ments filed late Thursday former McConnell chief of ties.
show the Faith and Power staff, sought to portray the A Democratic-backed
PAC receiving all of its mon- contributions as a new twist group ran ads in 2010 that
ey so far — $2.95 million — on an old effort by Demo- featured comments by a
from the Senate Leadership crats to interfere in Repub- leading contender for Ne-
Fund, which is connected lican Senate primaries. Six vada's Senate GOP nomi-
to the Kentucky Republi- years ago, the campaign nation suggesting that
can and designed to help of then-Sen. Kay Hagan, a people could barter for
the GOP retain its majority Democrat, spent money health care with chickens.
in the chamber. against Tillis on mailers while Sue Lowden eventually lost
The PAC, which was just he tried to win his crowded her bid and Republicans
created last month, has primary. The Senate Ma- nominated Sharron Angle,
run ads that appear to at- jority PAC, linked to then- a tea party conservative,
tempt to boost fortunes Majority Leader Harry Reid who lost the election to
of state Sen. Erica Smith of Nevada, ran primary TV Reid. The group that ran
at the expense of former ads attacking Tillis for trou- the ads, Patriot Majority,
state Sen. Cal Cunning- bles in his office while he was headed by a former
ham. Cunningham was was state House speaker. press secretary for Reid.
endorsed months ago by "We stole a page out of The conservative Club for
the Democratic Senato- (Senate Minority Leader) Growth said in 2016 it had
rial Campaign Committee. Chuck Schumer's play- bought an ad touting lib-
Cunningham's campaign book, and it's been more eral Rep. Alan Grayson of
has decidedly outraised successful than we could Florida, who ultimately lost
Smith so far. have imagined," Law said the Democratic Senate pri-
The DSCC is targeting a in a statement Friday. "We mary to a more moderate
handful of seats to retake got a lot more for our mon- opponent.
the Senate, including the ey than when Democrats Tillis' campaign said it had
one held by North Caro- spent millions in Thom Tillis' no knowledge of the Faith
lina Republican incumbent primary six years ago." and Power PAC and its
Thom Tillis. Outside groups, including structure except through
The Faith and Power PAC, the DSCC, and Cunning- news reports, according to
which originates from a pri- ham's committee have re- a spokesman.
vate mailbox in Jackson- ported spending over $10 The campaign has at-
ville, North Carolina, began million to date in support of tempted to link both Cun-
running an ad this month Cunningham's candidacy, ningham and Smith to
urging voters in the March according to campaign fi- Democratic presidential
3 Democratic primary to nance filings. candidate Bernie Sand-
back Smith, citing her sup- Cunningham and Smith ers, pointing to comments
port for a form of Medicare already had criticized the the two have made say-
for All and the Green New interference. Cunningham ing they'll support whoever
Deal. Early in-person voting and his allies said Friday the their party's nominee will
for the primary began Feb. revelation of the involve- be.
13. ment of Senate Repub- The primary has "already
A more recent commercial licans is more proof that highlighted that there is
from the PAC also attempts they are worried about the no difference between his
to portray Cunningham as race. policies and the radical,
too moderate on gun and McConnell "meddled in our liberal agenda of the na-
LGBT issues. Cunningham state's election to try to mis- tional Democratic party,"
started running a response lead voters, and it's clear Tillis campaign spokesman
commercial that referred why -- he knows Thom Tillis Andrew Romeo said. De-
to "deceptive ads" that has failed North Carolinians spite the attempts to link
are "just not true." Cun- by every measure and he's Cunningham to Sanders,
ningham's campaign said terrified to face me in No- the Faith and Power PAC
he still differs from Smith by vember," Cunningham said ads appear to more close-
opposing Medicare for All in a release. "I've got a mes- ly align the policies backed
and the Green New Deal. sage for McConnell and his by Sanders and Elizabeth
Before campaign reports allies -- your scheme won't Warren to Smith. q