ROLL CALL: Obama Backs Super PAC
Obama Backs Super PAC
By Steven T. Dennis
Roll Call Staff
Feb. 7, 2012, 9:11 a.m.
In a switch, President Barack Obama is backing a super PAC — and directing senior government officials to appear at its fundraisers — over fears his re-election campaign could be derailed by an "avalanche" of money flowing into Republican super PACs.
Obama Campaign Manager Jim Messina announced the decision in a Monday night email titled: "We will not play by two sets of rules."
"We decided to do this because we can't afford for the work you're doing in your communities, and the grass-roots donations you give to support it, to be destroyed by hundreds of millions of dollars in negative ads. It's a real risk," Messina wrote.
The effort will include appearances at fundraisers by White House officials and members of the Cabinet, although Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will not attend them, Messina said. He also said in his email that while campaign officials will attend the fundraisers, they will not be "soliciting contributions" for Priorities USA Action, the super PAC.
He noted that Romney's super PAC raised $30 million in 2011, and has used that warchest largely for attack ads.