Priorities USA Action, the main super PAC supporting Hillary Clinton seems to be having problems in its efforts to reach its fundraising goal of around $500 million, Politico reported.
The PAC has been trying to get at least 30 pledges of $1 million or more to be “publicly unveiled” when/if announcers her intent to run for president in 2016. But according to a source with knowledge about the group’s fundraising, so far it has only been able to secure “about 10 firm commitments” and is feeling pushback from donors who have given to other Clinton-affiliated groups.
The PAC itself, which has been working to “reinvent” itself after supporting Obama’s reelection campaign in 2012, has “been buffeted by disagreements over its mission, as well as its fundraising strategy and goals, according to interviews with about a dozen Democratic donors and operatives…”
As Politico pointed out, these behind-the-scenes tensions were thrust into the public view earlier this week when David Brock quit the Priorities board after accusations arose that the PAC was “trying to boost its own fundraising by undercutting that of two pro-Clinton groups he runs.”
Brock said he would be open to returning to the PAC after it agreed to address his concerns. However, some are more concerned about Priorities itself.
“People are starting to worry that Priorities could be a weak link,” a pro-Clinton strategist told Politico. And many believe that the numerous Clinton-affiliated groups are “indistinguishable.”
Priorities board member Joe Solmonese isn’t concerned about too many cooks spoiling the soup, though.
“People who write big checks like that are a lot smarter than that,” he said. “Having many different entities doing many different things is necessary to win in the context of an election cycle. And donors are sophisticated enough to evaluate these things individually and give on the basis of what they’re passionate about and what there is a need for.”
But what this lack of financial support shows is that maybe donors aren’t passionate about the idea of Clinton as the party’s nominee. The progressive wing of the party isn’t ready to just hand over the nomination to Clinton yet, and many have pledged their support for candidates like Sens. Elizabeth Warren (MA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT). While Warren maintains that she is not running, Sanders has expressed interest in entering the race as a Democrat.
Maybe donors are waiting to see who actually throws their hat in the ring before they start handing out six- and seven- figure donations. Maybe they’re holding out for a better option than Clinton and her pro-Wall Street ways.
