Harrison campaign quotes Altman in response to Kennedy’s call to reject super PAC support

Now that a super PAC tied to Democratic powerhouse George Norcross is now running ads in New Jersey’s 2nd district primary, Amy Kennedy wants Brigid Callahan Harrison to call on the General Majority PAC to stay out of the race.

“Unless Brigid wants to finally own the fact that she is the machine candidate, she should immediately disavow the General Majority PAC spending and call on them to stay out of this race,” said Kennedy’s campaign manager, Josh Roesch.

The General Majority PAC is the third super PAC to play in the race to pick Rep. Jeff Van Drew’s general election opponent.

Kennedy told the Blue Organizing Project, a super PAC with just one discernible donor – the candidate’s husband, former Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-Rhode Island) – to stay out of her race.  Patrick Kennedy contributed $500,000 to the super PAC.

But Kennedy stopped short of calling on another super PAC, America’s Future First, from advocating on her behalf.  That group is tied to Democratic National Committeeman John F.X. Graham, a longtime friend.

Harrison dismissed Kennedy’s call and responded with a quote from a Kennedy supporter, Sue Altman.

“As the State Director of Working Families recently stated, ‘I’d love for the U.S. to be a place where people didn’t need access to funds to run for office…. But these are the rules of the road, and everyone is playing by those rules,’” said Harrison campaign manager Paul Weborg.

But Altman also criticized the General Majority PAC’s support of Harrison.

“General Majority has a history of racist mailers. All PACs are not created equal,” Altman said.  “Having the backing of George Norcross says something about who you are as a candidate.”

Two of Kennedy’s other rivals, former House Oversight and Reform Committee chief investigator Will Cunningham and retired FBI agent Bob Turkavage, had bashed Kennedy for touting the endorsement of End Citizens United while her husband was funding a super PAC attacking Harrison.

Patrick Kennedy has not said if he would ask for his money back, leaving the door open to a late return of the Blue Organizing Project at some point in the campaign.

Harrison has been touting an endorsement by U.S. Senator Cory Booker in her TV ads, and has the support of Democratic county organizations in 54% of New Jersey’s 2nd district.

A super PAC backing President Donald Trump spent nearly $260,000 on TV and digital ads last December on behalf of Van Drew, who switched parties after refusing to vote to impeach Trump.