Mitch PerryDuring the 2012 U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts between Elizabeth Warren and Scott Brown, the two candidates signed a “People’s Pledge.” Under the pact, a candidate who benefited from a third-party ad had to pay a penalty to a charity chosen by the other. As the candidates wrote in a letter to third-party groups: “Your spending will damage the candidate you intend to help.”It ended up working, and observers say the tone of the campaign improved after that.
Now Alan Grayson is calling on Patrick Murphy to sign a similar pledge as their Democratic senate campaign kicks into high gear.
“So Patrick — I know you read my emails — for once in your life, do the right thing, and take the People’s Pledge. No matter who wins this primary, the people of Florida deserve a leader who is not shackled by Super PAC sewer money.”
Grayson is calling on his supporters to sign a petition calling on both candidates to agree to keep Super PAC money out of the Democratic Senate race. Although in his caustic fashion, it doesn’t exactly sound like he expects Murphy to agree.
“Elizabeth Warren negotiated the original People’s Pledge in her 2012 U.S. Senate race. Patrick Murphy won’t even talk about it. That’s what I’d expect from my Republican opponents, but maybe that’s exactly what Patrick is: a Republican. I shouldn’t be surprised to see a former Republican like Patrick act like a Republican – an elephant can’t change its spots.
How can Patrick ever truly represent the people of this state if he takes his marching orders from anonymous, undisclosed, and unregulated Super PACs? How can he help the people who need it the most, if he’s in the pocket of Wall Street bankers?”
As Grayson himself often notes, he’s the top candidate in the country in attracting small-donations, so the pact would undoubtedly benefit him.
