Business Groups To Curb Uber-Conservatives: ‘No Fools On Our Ticket’

Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Texas, second from right, participates in a mock swearing-in ceremony with Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, for the 113th Congress on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013 in Washington. (AP Ph... Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Texas, second from right, participates in a mock swearing-in ceremony with Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, for the 113th Congress on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013 in Washington. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Business groups are willing to spend big bucks to diminish the influence of the most activist conservatives and win a Republican majority in the Senate in 2014 with more centrist GOP candidates. 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce plans to aggressively shore up the campaigns of business-friendly establishment candidates in the new year, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday — to the tune of at least $50 million.

“Our No. 1 focus is to make sure, when it comes to the Senate, that we have no loser candidates,” the Chamber of Commerce’s top political strategist, Scott Reed, told the Journal. “That will be our mantra: No fools on our ticket.”

The conservative, Karl Rove-backed super PAC American Crossroads is also on board, according to the Journal.

The Chamber of Commerce signaled after the government shutdown that it would take on the activist wing of the party. The business group supported the deal to re-open the government and raise the debt ceiling.

Latest Livewire
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: