Political Action Committees Ramp Up for Christie

Allies of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have launched one super-PAC that can raise unlimited money toward his likely bid for president and added advisers with experience on former President George W. Bush’s campaigns to another committee.

The announcements come as Christie has been struggling to emerge from the shadows of rivals, including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. He has also lagged in measures of public opinion, although polls are of limited use this early in the race.

The America Leads super-PAC was registered with the Federal Election Commission on Feb. 23, said its executive director, Phil Cox, who worked closely with Christie at the Republican Governors Association when he was executive director and Christie was its chairman last year.

“He’s provided effective, conservative leadership in a deep blue state, bringing people together to solve difficult problems and get results,” Cox said in a statement. “That’s the kind of leadership we need in America today, and we hope he decides to run.”

Christie’s most vocal cheerleader, Home Depot co-founder Ken Langone, said this week he’d already started raising money for the group.

“I know people that are getting ready to write six-figure checks for the super-PAC,” he said.

Another political action committee — this one not a super-PAC — is also staffing up for Christie. The Leadership Matters for America PAC, for which Christie serves as honorary chairman, said Thursday it has brought on three advisers with significant national experience.

Candidate-run political organizations face fund-raising limits that do not constrain super-PACS. But the candidate-run PACs can coordinate activities with candidates while super PACs must operate independently.

This article appeared in print on page 4 of the March 13th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.