There’s no shortage of super PACs in this year’s gubernatorial race, meaning the special political action committees that can raise unlimited amounts of money but cannot coordinate with the candidates and campaigns they’re spending cash on.
They’re new to Louisiana’s state races, but have had a presence in federal elections for a few years now. Mostly they’ve been set up to support specific candidates for governor, with the Fund for Louisiana’s Future, which is backing U.S. Sen. David Vitter, leading the way.
Until now.
Last week a new anti-Vitter super PAC managed by the firm of Ourso Beychok made its debut. It’s called GUMBO PAC, and it kicked things off with a hard-hitting video on its website.
The video links Vitter to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, couches him as a champion for BP and zeroes in on the D.C. madam controversy. The voiceover ends on one line: “Imagine the things you haven’t heard about — yet.”
And there is more to come, according to PAC director Trey Ourso.
“We’re going to educate voters about David Vitter,” Ourso said. “We’ve all been going through this race and it’s too quiet.”
Ourso said he is raising money inside and outside the state, and will file a campaign finance report soon with the state Ethics Administration.
Others are already raising money. Louisiana Rising, which is backing Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, has reported $365,000 raised with almost all of it in the bank.
Bill Skelly, executive director of Louisiana Rising, said the total was collected over a three week period and marks the beginning of the super PAC’s fundraising. While Angelle will be the group’s primary focus, Skelly said others could benefit as well.
“We’re exploring multiple candidates,” he said. “In the coming weeks we’ll also be building out our infrastructure and bringing on more staff.”
A third super PAC called Now or Never-Louisiana has also been established to help Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne but no figures were readily available this week. Supporters contend it is still early and the pro-Dardenne super PAC will have the resources needed to compete. There is no 180-day report on file yet with the Ethics Administration for Now or Never.
There’s also no sign yet of a super PAC to prop up state Rep. John Bel Edwards, the lone Democrat who has been running second in the polls. However, rumors continue to swirl that one is in the works.
For now, the pro-Vitter Fund for Louisiana’s Future is the biggest game around, with $3.5 million in the bank. A recent email from the super PAC was just as complimentary of Edwards as it was of Vitter.