Super PAC Backing ‘Middle-Class Joe’ Is Led by Lobbyists, Corporate Consultants, and Democratic Fundraisers
Today, Unite the Country announced its top staffers, most of whom either work for major corporations or run groups funded by corporate interests.
Facing fundraising numbers well below those of his chief Democratic presidential rivals, the Biden campaign reversed its previous promise to disown assistance from outside super PACs. Last week, the campaign said it would no longer discourage help from super PACs, citing damage from President Trump’s ad campaign that attacks Biden over disproven allegations about his conduct as vice president while his son, Hunter, held a paid board seat at a Ukrainian natural gas company.
Days later, a new pro-Joe Biden super PAC called Unite the County registered with the Federal Election Commission and launched a website and introductory video. The site’s “about” section reads, “We need a leader who will rebuild the middle class, stop the corruption and abuse of power, and fight for equality…Our mission is to support Joe Biden, take the fight to Donald Trump and elect a president who will stand up for all of us.”
On Wednesday, United the Country announced its board and leadership team. The super PAC’s “professional team” consists of PR consultant Amanda Loveday, Democratic Party fundraiser Julianna Smoot, and corporate lobbyist Steve Shale.
Amanda Loveday
Loveday, who has served as executive director of the South Carolina Democratic Party and communications director for Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), is now associate director of NP Strategy, a public relations shop launched by corporate law firm Nexsen Pruet in 2013 to provide clients strategic guidance outside of what a typical law firm might offer. NP Strategy has worked for hospital company Laurens County Health Care System, a gold mining business, and a manufacturing company, which it helped with community, regulatory, and media issues, according to its website.
Nexsen Pruet has clients in industries such as energy, health care, and pharmaceuticals. Clients include Boeing, for which it negotiated an incentive package with the South Carolina legislature; gas station and convenience store chain Sheetz; Karshaw Health; and the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association. Nexsen Pruet lobbyists in South Carolina represent Google, Boeing, General Motors, and several health industry trade groups, according to filings reviewed by Sludge. Until 2013, Nexsen Pruet was a registered federal lobbyist for health care and real estate firms.
