The Student News Site of University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Badger Herald

The Student News Site of University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Badger Herald

The Student News Site of University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Badger Herald

Advertisements
Advertisements

Super PAC formed to support Walker’s expected presidential run

Super PACs can raise money and spend money for candidates
Super+PAC+formed+to+support+Walkers+expected+presidential+run
Herald Archives

A new super political action committee was launched Thursday to back Gov. Scott Walker’s likely presidential campaign.

Super PACs can both raise and spend an unlimited amount of money but are not allowed to directly coordinate with its desired candidate.

The committee is titled Unintimidated PAC after Walker’s 2013 book, “Unintimidated: A Governor’s Story and a Nation’s Challenge.”

Advertisements

The super PAC will be committed to showing how his leadership in Wisconsin will transfer to a national stage, assuming he runs for president, according to a statement released by Unintimidated PAC.

“Unintimidated PAC will independently advocate for [Walker’s] candidacy and show America who Walker is: someone who is unintimidated by Washington’s government-knows-best mentality and has proven his big, bold ideas can win,” the statement said.

University of Wisconsin political science professor Donald Downs said this announcement means Walker is serious about his presidential campaign and has a group that will generate money from big donors to support him. He said super PACs are becoming more common in politics and adding a lot of money to campaigns, for better or worse.

Downs said the super PAC’s formation may speed up Walker’s announcement of candidacy.

“I think that it’s a sign that he is going to do it soon especially because then it is going to give [the super PAC] the green light for contributing,” Downs said.

The group was created by two of Walker’s former campaign managers. Keith Gilkes, Walker’s 2010 campaign manager and 2012 recall election campaign manager, is executive director of the super PAC.

Stephan Thompson, former director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin and Walker’s 2014 re-election campaign manager, is its Deputy Executive Director. Jim McCray, managing partner for a Washington D.C. political and business consulting firm, is serving as the PACs National Finance Director.

According to the statement, the leaders of the super PAC will use their experience to promote Walker’s expected presidential campaign.

“Unintimidated PAC … will be dedicated to highlighting Gov. Walker’s strong record of reform and courageous leadership that have helped make Wisconsin great again,” the statement said.

Walker has said he will not announce his presidential candidacy until the state budget has passed. The 2015-17 budget starts July 1.

Donald Downs is an advisor to The Badger Herald.

Advertisements
Leave a Comment
Donate to The Badger Herald

Your donation will support the student journalists of University of Wisconsin-Madison. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
Donate to The Badger Herald

Comments (0)

All The Badger Herald Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *