Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's super PAC plans to raise as much money as possible in the final days of the first fundraising period, with the aim to "weaponize" its fundraising, according to
The New York Times.
"We want to weaponize our number," said Mike Murphy, head of the PAC, told donors on a Wednesday conference call. "The press has set a very high expectation for us, much higher than we would have set for ourselves."
"We are very, very focused on the next two weeks."
Bush told supporters in Miami a few weeks ago that he had already raised more money than any other Republican in modern history, the Times said.
Some reports have estimated that Bush will raise more than $100 million in the first six months of the year, but other reports predict the figure will be substantially less. The filings will reveal actual figures in the middle of July.
Murphy said that the disclosures will be the first indication of how much candidates have raised compared to Bush.
"We want to maximize our crushing advantage there as a sign of strength," he said, according to the Times.
Mason Fink, another super PAC official on the call, told donors that the organization hoped to raise $19 million in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, but had raised roughly $17 million so far.
Bush recently set up an official campaign committee, which is limited to accepting checks in maximum increments of $2,700, the Times reported. His super PAC, however, can raise higher amounts and has been aggressively fundraising since the start of the year.
Murphy repeatedly told donors on the call that the super PAC could not coordinate with the campaign, in keeping with campaign finance rules, the Times said.
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