Republicans Rush to Form New Finance Groups

[kskiska]

WASHINGTON, May 28 — After months spent trying to shut down Democratic advocacy groups that have raised tens of millions of dollars in unlimited contributions to support Senator John Kerry, Republicans are scrambling to set up similar organizations to collect donations to help President Bush.

The Federal Election Commission's decision earlier this month to postpone new campaign finance rules that would have restricted these groups sent Republican operatives rushing to recruit fund-raisers and schedule events.

(snip)

While the Republicans have copied Democratic efforts to create 527 committees, Democrats are creating a new tier of individual fund-raisers called "trustees," who are supposed to raise $250,000 each for the Democratic National Committee. The group is modeled loosely after a similar program for "super rangers" who raise $300,000 for the Republican National Committee.

"We are moving into a new phase," said Peter Maroney, the national finance co-chairman at the Democratic National Committee. "This is a final phase of sorts and the plans are in place."

Republicans have long had 527 committees, but they have raised little money so far in this year's race. Instead, party officials focused on trying to stop Democratic-leaning groups like America Coming Together, the MoveOn.org Voter Fund and the Media Fund, which support Mr. Kerry and attack Mr. Bush. Federal laws allows these groups to raise money in unrestricted amounts, but they cannot coordinate their activities with the campaigns run by the candidates or the parties.

more…
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/29/politics/campaign/29DONA.html?hp

[NewYorkerfromMass]

1. This is an important story

It's the Repukes' only chance to catch Kerry- flood the airwaves with disinformation. The 527's are the only possibility to get the unlimited money they will need to do it.