America Bridge, a liberal PAC, is leading an effort to prepare the research needed to contest Vice President Mike Pence for the Presidency in 2020.
The group has already dedicated a staff and begun digging up dirt on Pence on the ground in his home state of Indiana, Buzzfeed reports. The effort began earlier this summer, kicking into high gear after a New York Times article suggested that the vice president was gearing up for his own possible 2020 run (he has since denied this claim).
America Bridge is a liberal SuperPAC linked to David Brock, a supporter of Hillary Clinton who authored a memo following the election which was intended to "kick Donald Trump's ass."
The group's early research centers around blocking Pence from distancing himself from the Trump administration.
"If he's running for president, we are going to be prepared," said Shripal Shah, vice president of America Bridge.
They also hope to tie him to the on-going Russia probe through his connections to fired National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn.
"Pence wants the public to think he's removed from Trump's scandals, but that's a lie, he's not," Shah said. "He's complicit in all of it, dating back to the transition, Michael Flynn and Russia. His signature on the public documents we've uncovered discredit his attempts to plead ignorance."
Democrats also expect to attack Pence for his record on hate crimes legislation, especially in light of the white supremacist protest in Charlottesville, Va. over the weekend which resulted in the death of a counter protester. Indiana is one of five states without a hate crime law, after an attempted bill failed under Pence's tenure as Governor.
"There's no daylight between Trump and Pence and we're going to make sure people know that," Shah said. "We're only getting started."