Bob Kerrey, the Democrats' Senate candidate in Nebraska, is benefiting from a Super PAC attacking his Republican opponent Deb Fischer, despite calling for Fischer to reject Super PAC money herself. Omaha World-Herald reported Friday:
A committee called "End The Gridlock" unleashed a round of negative TV advertisements today, taking Republican Deb Fischer to task for her and her family's enrollment in a federal grazing program. Critics allege the program subsidizes a handful of Nebraska ranchers.
The group has strong ties to Kerrey. Its treasurer, Michael Tucker, used to work for Kerrey as his spokesman when Kerrey was the head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Movie producer, Sidney Kimmel (The Kite Runner), donated $100,000 to the Super PAC. A trust run by Kimmel paid Kerrey $800,000 in consulting fees in 2011, according to the World-Herald.
Omaha philanthropist and past Kerrey supporter, Dick Holland, also contributed $25,000 to the PAC to help "End The Gridlock" reach $230,000 in overall donations thus far.
Just one week before the ads premiered, Kerrey requested that Fischer sign an agreement to shun Super PAC money:
Chris Triebsch, a spokesman for Kerrey, said Kerrey stands by his call for the two Senate candidates to denounce Super PAC spending in Nebraska.
"Senator Kerrey made a good-faith proposal to end Super PAC expenditures in the state and Fischer rejected it. Senator Kerrey stands by the offer," said Triebsch.