summit strategic comms

===<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2020/05/lincoln-project-capitalizes-on-trump-rage">https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2020/05/lincoln-project-capitalizes-on-trump-rage</a>esident <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/2020-presidential-race/candidate?id=N00023864" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Donald Trump</a> is directing his rage at a <a href="https://lincolnproject.us/news/mourning-america/" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">new super PAC ad</a> that accuses him of ignoring the coronavirus that has now killed more than 70,000 Americans. The Lincoln Project, a super PAC launched by prominent anti-Trump Republicans, aired an ad this week on Fox News that trashes Trump over his response to COVID-19. Trump responded with a <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1257532101966036993" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">tweetstorm</a> ripping the group and its members, with much of his ire directed at George Conway, husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway. That response seems to be exactly what The Lincoln Project was looking for, as it reportedly <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/06/lincoln-project-has-biggest-day-of-fundraising-after-trump-attacks-group.html" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">raised $1 million</a> shortly after Trump slammed the group on Tuesday. The Republican super PAC has amassed a substantial war chest, but it has come under scrutiny for funneling money to its advisory board members and spending relatively little airing political ads to influence voters. The group also hides some of its vendors by stealthily paying subcontractors, making it difficult to follow the money[vid mouring]The Lincoln Project reported spending nearly $1.4 million through March. Almost all of that money went to the group’s board members and firms run by them. The super PAC spent nearly $1 million with <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/expends/vendor.php?year=2020&vendor=Summit+Strategic+Communications" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Summit Strategic Communications</a>, a firm run by Lincoln Project treasurer Reed Galen. Another $215,000 went to <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/expends/vendor.php?year=2020&vendor=Tusk+Digital" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Tusk Digital</a>, a company run by Lincoln Project adviser Ron Steslow. Both companies received little business from other federal committees since Trump’s inauguration. That seven-figure spending, <a href="https://twitter.com/rpyers/status/1250155430556217344" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">noted earlier</a> by campaign finance expert Rob Pyers on Twitter, comes as the group spends relatively little on direct political activity. The super PAC shelled out $364,000 to Galen and Steslow’s companies to run <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zca1Oe5uob8&t=3s" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">independent expenditures</a> opposing Trump and his Republican allies in Congress. But just 52 percent of that money went to buying and placing ads, with the rest spent on producing the ads themselves. That’s an unusually high rate for production costs compared to most super PACs. At least 2 percent of independent expenditures from pro-Trump super PAC <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/detail.php?cycle=2020&cmte=C00637512" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">America First Action</a> this cycle were labeled as production costs, with the rest going to ad buying. And that group has come under fire from Republican operatives for <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/07/politics/trump-super-pac-america-first/index.html" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">spending donors’ money generously</a>. The Lincoln Project spent more than $19,000 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJVDe_345oc" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">on one ad</a> opposing Sen. <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/summary?cid=N00033982" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Martha McSally</a> (R-Ariz.). But just one-quarter of that money went to placing the ad online with the rest spent on production costs. In response to the group’s attacks on Senate Republicans, the <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/parties/totals.php?cmte=NRSC&cycle=2020" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">National Republican Senatorial Committee</a> called The Lincoln Project a “scam PAC” and <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/495425-george-conway-group-targets-gop-senators-in-new-ad-for-supporting-trump" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">accused</a> its members of “lining their own pockets.” The Lincoln Project did not respond to a request for comment. Still, Federal Election Commission filings don’t tell the whole story about The Lincoln Project’s spending. The group buys its television ads through a little-known Maryland firm called Ashton Media, according to OpenSecrets <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/ad-data/document?id=2150665558" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">political ads database</a>, but doesn’t disclose paying that firm in FEC filings.Another firm, <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/expends/vendor.php?year=2020&vendor=Howe+Creative+Group" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Howe Creative</a>, appears to produce <a href="http://howecreativegroup.com/television" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">some of The Lincoln Project’s ads</a>, but also isn’t listed as being paid by the super PAC. This suggests that Galen and Steslow’s companies are likely paying these firms as subcontractors. This process is also used by the Trump campaign to <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2020/04/shell-companies-hide-trump-campaigns-financial-dealings" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">hide the specifics</a> of its spending. Ashton Media was incorporated in March 2019 by Republican ad buyer Steve Hazleton, according to Maryland state records. Hazleton’s firm, <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/campaign-expenditures/vendor?cycle=2020&vendor=SRH+Media&year=2018" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">SRH Media</a>, was paid by two Republican committees this cycle, including former White House physician Ronny Jackson’s unsuccessful <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary?cycle=2020&id=TX13" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">House campaign</a> in Texas. Howe Creative most recently <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/expenditures.php?cycle=2020&cmte=C00623371" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">purchased ads</a> for a super PAC supporting Democrat Dan McCready in last year’s expensive special election in North Carolina’s <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/races/special-elections-summary?cycle=2020&id=NC09" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">9th Congressional District</a>. Raking in small donor dollarsThe Lincoln Project has spent over $276,000 running ads on Facebook. However many of these ads are geared toward <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?active_status=all&ad_type=all&country=US&impression_search_field=has_impressions_lifetime&view_all_page_id=105756057589080" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">attracting donors</a>, often linking to the group’s donate page. 
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