Just days after Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren decried candidates accepting help from major Political Action Committees (PACs), the progressive senator is now getting assistance from them as her campaign struggles to remain competitive.
“Everyone on this stage except Amy and me is either a billionaire or is receiving help from PACs that can do unlimited spending,” Warren cried out at the New Hampshire Democratic debate two weeks ago. “So, if you really want to live where you say, then put your money where your mouth is and say no to the PACs.”
But now, Warren is receiving help from the very organizations she demonizes as corrupting the integrity of American democracy.
According to recent FEC filings, Persist PAC has dumped $800,000 on pro-Warren ads in Nevada ahead of Saturday’s caucuses.
While Super PACs are prohibited from contributing to campaigns directly, they enjoy the benefits of no spending caps on behalf of endorsed candidates.
When asked whether she wanted the new super PAC backing Warren to halt advertising for her campaign, Warren rejected the idea.
“Of all the candidates want to get rid of super PACs, count me in. I’ll lead the charge. But that’s how it has to be. It can’t be the case that a bunch of people keep them and only one or two don’t,” Warren said.
NEW: Here is video of Warren declining to disavow the new super PAC supporting her:
“If all the candidates want to get rid of super PACs, count me in. I'll lead the charge. But that's how it has to be. It can't be the case that a bunch of people keep them and only 1 or 2 don’t.” pic.twitter.com/byxQRjGMfs
— Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) February 20, 2020
“We reached the point a few weeks ago that all the men who were still in this race and on the debate stage all had either super PACs or they were multibillionaires and could just, you know, rummage around in their sock drawers to find enough money to be able to fund a campaign.”
Warren’s statement comes as former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has spent nearly a billion dollars on his campaign just within the last four months since making a late entrance into the race.
Warren is now fighting to remain competitive in a crowded primary following lower-than expected finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire. In Nevada, Warren is polling in third place with 14.5 percent support while rival Sen. Bernie Sanders leads with 30 percent in Real Clear Politics’ latest aggregate of polls. Former Vice President Joe Biden is in second place with an even 16 percent.
