SEIU’s Moves Quickly to Offer Democrats Enormous In-Kind Contributions
The partnership between the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the House Majority PAC, which most recently helped Democrats hang on to former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords‘ Arizona seat, marks the continuation of efforts to consolidate the work of multiple Democratic groups. In March, the House Majority PAC joined with the Majority PAC, its Senate-focused cousin, and Priorities USA Action, an Obama-blessed super PAC focused on the presidential race, to form an umbrella group called Unity 2012.
The advertising blitz will cover at least 47 competitive congressional districts nationwide and involve media buys in 38 markets.
“SEIU members across the country are working hard to inform voters about where candidates stand on key issues facing working families, and to elect candidates up and down the ballot who will fight for working families,†SEIU National Political Director Brandon Davis said in a statement. “This partnership with House Majority PAC will ensure that the work being done by SEIU member volunteers at the doors, on the phones and in the neighborhoods is backed up by a vigorous paid media campaign.â€
Democrats are counting on volunteers to compete against donations from Republican supporters they acknowledge they cannot match.
Some of the House Majority PAC’s top sources of cash have been labor unions, records show. The Laborers’ Political League Education Fund gave $350,000, the firefighters’ union gave $250,000, a teachers’ union and food workers’ union each gave $200,000, and the SEIU has given $185,000. Trial lawyers have also been key contributors.