Former George W. Bush Officials Launch PAC Supporting Joe Biden

TOPLINE

A group of ex-Cabinet secretaries and White House officials in the George W. Bush administration launched a PAC on Wednesday to support presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, part of a growing network of Republican groups backing Biden over Trump.

KEY FACTS

Key Background

The PAC is one of a number of Republican groups backing Biden, such as Right Side PAC, a group of Republicans who feel Trump is a “existential threat,” and Republican Voters Against Trump, which is launching a $10 million ad campaign in swing states. But the highest profile group is the Lincoln Project, run by Republican strategists Steve Schmidt, John Weaver and Rick Wilson, as well as George Conway, wife of White House advisor Kellyanne Conway. The group aims to “troll” Trump through targeted ads in Washington D.C., spurring the Trump campaign to spend $400,000 in D.C. to flatter the President.

Key Quote

In 43 Alumni for Biden’s FAQ, the group reassures uncertain Republicans that while they support Biden, it does not necessarily mean they are abandoning the Republican Party or endorsing the DNC platform. “Many of us remain Republicans,” the group says, adding that “sound principles” and “service to our country,” are the onus for endorsing Biden. “This campaign is bigger than partisan politics. We recognize that there may be policy differences among us, but we look forward to a time when civil, honest and robust policy discussions are the order of the day.”

News Peg

Biden is unlikely to win a significant chunk of GOP voters, but he could outpace Hillary Clinton’s vote share among Republicans. 64% of Republicans in a New York Times/Siena College poll said they have a very unfavorable view of Biden, compared to 24% who said somewhat unfavorable and 9% who said somewhat or very favorable. That’s compared to 89% who said they have a very unfavorable view of Clinton in a YouGov poll conducted shortly before the 2016 election. Meanwhile, recent polls of typically Republican states like Arizona, Texas and Georgia have shown Biden competitive or leading.