Reid solicits funds for “Super PAC”

The arms race of campaign fundraising kicked up a notch when Sen. Harry Reid sent out a solicitation this week for donations to a new "super PAC" conceived by several of his former advisers.

Reid on Tuesday gave his blessing to the Majority PAC, one of the new breed of Democratic political action committees set up to legally raise unlimited money to influence campaigns.

The Center for Responsive Politics was the first to report Reid's move, and to post a copy of his email to potential donors.

"In 2010, the GOP’s big money advantage helped them take the House -- and nearly cost us the Senate, as well." Reid wrote. "We can’t let that happen again this time."

While some Democratic-linked groups formed super PACs, Republicans have been more aggressive in capitalizing on last year's Supreme Court ruling in the Citizens United case that allowed corporations, trade associations, unions and nonprofits to spend unlimited sums for elections.

A Republican super PAC, American Crossroads, raised $28 million last year and was a player in a number of campaigns, including the Senate race in Nevada.

"Overall, for every dollar spent by liberal super PACs, conservative super PACs spent about $1.26," the Center for Responsive Politics said, citing its own research.

The law still is unclear as to how explicitly federal officeholders can raise funds for such big money outside groups, according to the center.

It noted that Reid's fund-raising email stated that he is "only asking for a donation of up to $5,000 from individuals and federal PACs. He is not asking for funds from corporations, labor unions or other federally prohibited sources." That keeps him within current limits for fundraising.

Reid's former chief of staff Susan McCue, his former top Nevada strategist Rebecca Lambe and onetime press adviser Craig Varoga are all connected to the Majority PAC, which will direct its efforts to helping Democrats hold control of the U.S. Senate.

"Majority PAC is made up of some of the smartest, toughest Democrats in the country," Reid wrote. "They plan to be aggressive in taking on right-wing Republicans, taking down their most outrageous claims, and taking a stand against their extreme agenda."