Tag search result

The Alliance for North Carolina may not be going away.

A spokesman for the independent 527 group, which ran five ads against Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory during the fall campaign, said that it may still play a role in state politics.

"As issues present themselves where we feel the need to take a stand, we will," said Scott Falmlen, a Democratic political consultant.

That would be fairly unusual for a group that got its start essentially as a hit-and-run organization against a GOP candidate for governor in Oklahoma. It would also require more fundraising, since the group appears to have about $350,000 left.

About 88 percent of the Alliance's funding this year came from the Democratic Governors Association, or $3.7 out of $4.2 million dollars it received, according to reports filed with the State Board of Elections.

Another $250,000 apiece came from two unions, the National Education Association and the Service Employees International Union, while the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association gave $15,000.

The State Employees Association of N.C., which is affiliated with SEIU, also gave $5,000. 

Outside groups have spent more than $20 million on North Carolina campaigns.

Most of the third-party spending has gone to the U.S. Senate race. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spent $6.6 million attacking Sen. Elizabeth Dole, while the National Republican Senatorial Committee spent $2.8 million against Kay Hagan.

Freedom's Watch and the National Rifle Association are also spending against Hagan, while the League of Conservation Voters and Citizens for Strength and Security are spending against Dole. At least 11 groups have bought TV ads in the Senate race.

Meanwhile, the Republican Governors Association has spent $4 million against Democraic gubernatorial candidate Beverly Perdue and the Alliance for North Carolina has spent $2.4 million against Republican Pat McCrory. 

National Democrats, Realtors and a gun-rights group have spent money on other state races. (Char-O) 

Scott Falmlen says that 527s are not mysterious.

The former executive director of the N.C. Democratic Party is currently serving as spokesman for the Alliance for North Carolina, a 527 organization running an ad attacking Republican gubernatorial nominee Pat McCrory.

He said the group has provided information on its donors and its spending, runs a Web site and answers questions from the press. 

"We are totally compliant with what the law requires with both the Internal Revenue Service and the State Board of Elections," he told Dome. "Beyond saying that we're compliant, I don't know what else there is to say."

He also took issue with McCrory's assertion that it was "extremely inappropriate" for the ad to list the mayor's number.

"These are public issues and he is an elected official, and that is an appropriate forum for response," he said. "We're not advocating for the election or defeat of any candidate, so it would be inappropriate for us to refer anybody to a campaign office."

The Alliance is spending $450,000 on its first ad and is considering airing more.

Is the Alliance for North Carolina breaking the law?

Republican gubernatorial nominee Pat McCrory and the state Republican Party sent almost simultaneous press releases today arguing that the Democratic 527 had not disclosed its donors on time.

Under state law, third-party groups must submit a list of donors within 24 hours of running an ad. The Alliance' began running an anti-McCrory TV ad yesterday, David Ingram reports.

"This secret 527 group has launched over $300,000 worth of negative television ads without disclosing any information whatsoever," said McCrory spokeswoman Amy Auth in a statement.

But Kim Westbrook Strach, deputy director of campaign reporting for the State Board of Elections, said that they received a "timely" report today.

The report only stated that the Alliance received money from two other 527s run by the Democratic Governors Association and the National Education Association. It did not say where those donations ultimately came from.

But Strach said that met the state's legal requirements.

"I don't think the law requires the disclosure of what made up those organizations' funds, so I think this complies what the statute says they're required to disclose," she said.