Three weeks ago, Katie Packer, a Republican consultant who worked for Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign, filed paperwork with the Federal Election commission to start a new PAC. According to FEC records, Our Principles is not affiliated with any organization, committee, joint fundraising representative, or leadership PAC. It acts alone and seems to have a single mission: To prevent Donald Trump from winning the Republican nomination.
The group released its first television ad “Questions” in Iowa in late January, savaging the media mogul for his previous positions on universal healthcare, Hillary Clinton, and abortion. Ten days later, after Our Principles had funneled $2.5 million into attack ads, Donald Trump finished an unexpected second in the caucuses.
The group seems to have gotten an influx of new cash. Although Our Principles does not disclose its donors, Packer told USA Today on Tuesday that “Our plan was to leapfrog to South Carolina, but thanks to some new resources and an opportunity in New Hampshire, we are adding a New Hampshire plan.” It released three new television ads Friday, all asking the same question: “Can we trust Donald Trump?”
A separate anti-Trump PAC, Make America Awesome, released an ad called “Not for Us” Thursday, hitting Trump for “mismanaging his companies into bankruptcy.” The rapidity with which these PACs have started intensifying their attacks on Trump illustrates that establishment Republicans may think his aura of inevitability is fading.
Packer did not respond to requests to comment.