USATODAY.com News [expanded by feedex.net]: New Romney PAC exemplifies 2012's steep stakes

USATODAY.com News [expanded by feedex.net] USATODAY.com News New Romney PAC exemplifies 2012's steep stakes 24 Jun 2011, 6:32 am WASHINGTON — Several prominent supporters of Mitt Romney on Thursday announced a new group that will spend unlimited sums of money to help the Republican's presidential campaign — a sign of the escalating fundraising battles ahead of the 2012 election. By John Moore, Getty Images Mitt Romney, the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, greets supporters at the Brewery Bar IV on Monday in Aurora, Colo. By John Moore, Getty Images Mitt Romney, the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, greets supporters at the Brewery Bar IV on Monday in Aurora, Colo. Restore Our Future political action committee is the latest in a string of Super PACs formed in recent months to capitalize on court rulings that have eased restrictions on corporate spending in elections. A similar group was formed this year by former aides to President Obama. Under federal rules, Super PACs must operate independently of candidates. "They are creating as many pockets as possible for people to put money in," said Meredith McGehee of the Campaign Legal Center, a campaign watchdog group. She called the pro-Romney group "a shadow campaign created by his political operatives and cronies." In a statement, Charlie Spies, the group's treasurer, said Obama "has failed to fix the problems that affect Americans" and said Romney "understands the economy." Spies served as Romney's top lawyer in the Republican's 2008 failed presidential bid. Other board members include political consultant Carl Forti, who has served as political director of American Crossroads, an independent group founded with help from Karl Rove, a top political strategist for George W. Bush. Crossroads and a sister group spent heavily to help Republicans gain control of the House of Representatives in 2010 and have pledged to raise $120 million to influence next year's presidential and congressional races. Brittany Gross, a Restore Our Future spokeswoman, said "both sides are engaging" in outside spending. "We have to find a way to level the playing field." Romney spokeswoman Gail Gitcho said the PAC's creation made sense, given expectations that Obama could raise as much as $1 billion for his re-election. "We are pleased that independent groups will be active in fighting this entrenched power," she said in a statement. Democratic outside groups formed this year include Priorities USA Action and a sister organization co-founded by Bill Burton, a former Obama spokesman. Last month, it produced an anti-Romney commercial, its first of the campaign. Other Democratic groups include American Bridge 21st Century, whose top staff includes former aides to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Chris Harris, the group's spokesman, said the Democratic groups were formed to respond to the 2010 election gains made by Republicans. "Democrats of all stripes realized we need to get up and fight," Harris said. Nathaniel Persily, an election law expert at Columbia University, said the spread of outside groups reflects a changing legal climate. But, he said, "it's not clear that the advent of all these new PACs means more money will be spent. It will just be spent in a different form." You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed.