A conservative super PAC began running ads supporting Republican state Treasurer John Kennedy’s bid for Louisiana’s open Senate seat a month after his state campaign committee contributed $2 million to that group, federal campaign records show.
USA Today reports the ESAFund has spent about $1.4 million over the last month helping Kennedy. The John Kennedy Campaign Committee Inc. made the contribution to the ESAFund on Aug. 2, according to Federal Election Commission reports.
ESAFund, which has endorsed Kennedy, spent nearly $660,000 between Sept. 20 and Oct. 18 on attack ads against Republican Rep. John Fleming, one of Kennedy’s top opponents, and nearly $618,000 during that period on attack ads targeting GOP Rep. Charles Boustany, also a leading candidate in the race, records show.
The group also spent at least $110,000 on ads supporting Kennedy.
Kennedy, Boustany and Fleming lead the other GOP Senate candidates in fundraising. Each has more than $1 million in his campaign account.
Twenty-four candidates are competing for the seat held by Republican Sen. David Vitter, who decided not to run for re-election after losing his bid for governor last year.
Democratic candidates Foster Campbell, a public service commissioner, and Caroline Fayard, a New Orleans attorney, also have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. Retired Air Force Col. Rob Maness, a Republican, also is a top fundraiser in the race.
So far, ESAFund has targeted only Boustany and Fleming, running online ads and other media buys attacking them. Nonpartisan groups tracking Senate elections predict the seat will remain in Republican hands.
ESAFund says on its website its mission is “to protect Americans from the irresponsible spending spree in Washington and support political candidates who understand the importance of a balanced budget.’’
Make Louisiana Proud, a super PAC run by Jason Redmond, a former long-time aid to Kennedy, contributed $119,964 to ESAFund, including a $20,500 donation and in-kind services, according to FEC reports. Make Louisiana Proud was closed in July, records show.
Kennedy had $2.8 million left over from his campaign for treasurer but can’t use that money for the Senate race. Experts say Kennedy can give it to a super PAC supporting his candidacy.
