ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) – Supporters of former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley announced the formation a super PAC on Thursday to raise money to help his expected presidential campaign.
The launch of Generation Forward came two days before a scheduled news conference in Baltimore where O’Malley, the city’s former mayor, is set to announce his plans for the 2016 Democratic primary.
“We cannot choose to go back to the politics of the 20th century,” said Damian O’Doherty, CEO of the Washington-based PAC and a longtime O’Malley supporter. “We need new leadership for the 21st century.”
That was no doubt a reference to O’Malley’s relative youth, 52. Hillary Rodham Clinton, 67, is the dominant figure in the Democratic contest. Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, 73, is also running for the Democratic nomination.
Super PACs can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to advocate for and against candidates, but the spending cannot be directed by the campaigns themselves.