Why It Matters

American Center PAC, a Washington-based super PAC registered in October, has directed all its reported independent expenditures toward opposing former Sen. John Sununu in the New Hampshire U.S. Senate race. The newly formed committee's exclusive focus on Sununu adds to a broader advertising campaign against the Republican nominee in a closely watched contest that could help determine control of the Senate. ​

Sununu, who represented New Hampshire in the Senate from 2003 to 2009, is seeking to reclaim the seat against Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH). The seat is open because Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) is not seeking re-election. Sabato's Crystal Ball rates the contest Likely Democratic, and the Cook Political Report rates it Lean Democratic.

The committee's advertising strategy focuses entirely on attacking Sununu rather than directly promoting Pappas. Its rapid emergence in the final weeks before the Nov. 3 general election adds another outside spender to a race already attracting substantial expenditures from national political organizations.

As an independent expenditure-only committee, American Center PAC can raise and spend unlimited sums but cannot coordinate its independent expenditures with candidates or their campaigns.

What It Spent

American Center PAC has reported $1.694 million in independent expenditures opposing Sununu, its only spending target this cycle. Four reported transactions dated Oct. 8 through Oct. 20 account for the total, with the largest expenditures occurring during the final weeks before the general election.

The four reported transactions, all opposing Sununu, are:

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  • Oct. 20: GPS Impact, $1 million for digital advertising and production.
  • Oct. 20: AL Media LLC, $290,000 for a media buy.
  • Oct. 8: AL Media LLC, $204,000 for a media buy and production.
  • Oct. 13: AL Media LLC, $200,000 for a media buy.

GPS Impact's Oct. 20 expenditure accounts for approximately 59% of the committee's reported independent expenditures. AL Media LLC handled the remaining advertising purchases and production, including three transactions totaling $694,000. The reported activity centers on digital advertising and other media placements targeting Sununu.

The committee reported $400,000 in disbursements through Oct. 14, according to its FEC financial summary. That figure trails the more recent independent-expenditure notices because the two datasets cover different reporting periods and filing types. The FEC's regular financial summary does not include subsequent 24- and 48-hour independent-expenditure notices.

Who Funds It

American Center PAC reported $450,000 in receipts through Oct. 14, according to its FEC financial summary. The committee's reported contributions came from a single contributor identified as American Center, which made two contributions of $250,000 and $200,000. No separately identified individual donors appear in the supplied transaction records.

The contributor's name closely matches the committee's name, but the available records do not establish whether American Center is an affiliated organization, a separate legal entity, or another funding vehicle. Its organizational structure and original funding sources remain unclear.

The committee also reported $50,000 in cash on hand and $4,000 in debts through Oct. 14. Its receipts and cash balance reflect the earlier financial reporting period, rather than all expenditures disclosed in subsequent independent-expenditure notices.

The Ad Buy

The committee's largest advertising activity occurred Oct. 20, when it reported $1.29 million across GPS Impact and AL Media LLC. Those transactions accounted for approximately 76% of its reported independent expenditures.

GPS Impact handled digital advertising and production, while AL Media LLC handled media purchases and production. The filings identify the vendors and expenditure purposes but do not, by themselves, establish the advertisements' precise messaging, audiences or geographic distribution.

Other Spenders in the Same Races

In New Hampshire's Senate race, WINSENATE has reportedly spent $15.95 million opposing Sununu and $798,000 supporting Pappas. No Going Back PAC Inc. has reportedly spent $2.55 million supporting Sununu and $11.49 million opposing Pappas. Americans for Prosperity Action Inc. has reportedly spent $6.36 million supporting Sununu and $6.16 million opposing Pappas.

American Center PAC's reported $1.694 million in opposition spending represents about 10.6% of WINSENATE's reported $15.95 million in spending against Sununu. Its expenditures add to the broader advertising effort against the Republican nominee, while other committees continue spending on both sides of the contest.

You can explore more about this committee's filings at Legis1.com.

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