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OFA Exploring Future as 501c4 or Super PAC

Obama's campaign could become what he once called a 'threat to democracy'

AP
January 10, 2013

President Obama once called Super PACs a "threat to democracy." Now, CNN reports Wednesday that Obama for America working on the "restructuring" of the group into a 501(c)4 or a Super PAC.

CNN reported Wednesday that Obama for America officials are working to make the group a separate entity:

Senior Obama campaign aides are currently working on the specifics of how to restructure Obama for America, but are considering several different options such as converting it to a 501c4 or perhaps a super PAC, a source familiar with the campaign said.

The new campaign organization will be headed by Jim Messina, Obama’s campaign manager who oversaw the president’s victory over Republican Mitt Romney in November. Messina, Stephanie Cutter, Jennifer O'Malley Dillon and several other top Obama aides are working out the details.

"After the election, it was clear from the conversations with supporters that they wanted to continue the progress we made in the first four years and continue it together," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Obama's 2012 campaign outraised and outspent the campaign of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney by hundreds of millions of dollars. It also boasts an email list "much bigger" than 14 million people, according to CNN.

Following the election, Obama deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter said "decisions were being made" about housing the massive organization--and its email list--at the Democratic National Committee, casting doubt on whether the DNC would subsume the group.