Clinton signals support for super PAC backing campaign

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton will personally do outreach to potential donors for a super PAC backing her presidential campaign, deepening Democratic acceptance of the outside groups.

Clinton’s decision is another sign of how a vast network of super PACs that can accept unlimited donations is reshaping presidential politics.

While Republicans have vigorously embraced the independent groups, Democrats have been more reluctant. President Barack Obama, who opposed the 2010 Supreme Court ruling clearing the way for super PACs, grudgingly supported Priorities USA Action during his re-election campaign. While some of his top advisers appeared at Priorities events, Obama did not.

Priorities officials have said for months that the group would back Clinton, though it had been unclear how direct her involvement would be. Her campaign said Wednesday that given the aggressive super PAC fundraising among Republicans, Democrats had to have the resources to fight back.

Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, is also expected to fundraise for Priorities.

Federal law bars campaigns from directly coordinating with super PACS. Candidates can appear at events, but cannot directly solicit unlimited donations.

The front-runner for the Democratic nomination, Clinton has been keeping an eye on the money haul in the large Republican field. Her team has been particularly focused on former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s aggressive fundraising for his super PAC, Right to Rise.

Bush is putting off an official campaign launch until late spring or early summer so he can keep courting unlimited contributions from fundraisers. He also plans to outsource many campaign functions to the group, another sign of the evolving role of super PACs.

Priorities officials have said previously that they planned to stay focused on advertising. While the group lagged its GOP counterparts in fundraising during the 2012 campaign, it garnered attention for its negative advertisements targeting Republican nominee Mitt Romney’s business record.

Clinton’s foray into super PAC fundraising was first reported by The New York Times.

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