Jim DeMint to launch super PAC

ByABC News
July 2, 2012, 4:23 PM

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South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint announced Monday that he will transition his successful fundraising group, the Senate Conservatives Fund (SCF) leadership PAC, into an independent super PAC.

By switching the group into a super PAC, DeMint will not longer have direct control, but the organization will be allowed to accept unlimited donations.

The new group will be called the Senate Conservatives Action. From the press release:

"If we're going to save this country, we have to elect more conservatives to the U.S. Senate," said Senator DeMint. "Making the Senate Conservatives Fund independent of me will allow it do even more to elect the kind of leaders we need to repeal Obamacare and balance the budget."

FEC rules prohibit Leadership PACs, which are connected to an elected official, from operating as a Super PAC.

"This change will allow us to take the next step and gradually increase our independent expenditures, said SCF Executive Director Matt Hoskins. "The more radio and television ads we can run to promote conservative candidates, the more races we're going to win."

For years, DeMint's leadership PAC has been able to beef up the campaigns of conservative candidates running for the House and Senate, and the switch will likely bolster his influence.