Saturday, February 25, 2012

Bill Maher gives $1 million to pro-Obama super PAC Priorities USA

The Washington Post

Comedian Bill Maher has pledged $1 million to a super PAC supporting President Obama's reelection bid, some welcome news for a group that has struggled to raise money compared with its conservative rivals.The gift to Priorities USA Action comes after the PAC’s dismal fundraising month in January. It managed to bring in only $58,800 while conservative super PACs are bringing in millions.

The group has raised about $4.4 million since last year, $2 million of which came from Hollywood mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg.

Obama shifted course earlier this month by announcing that he would support Priorities USA Action and would allow aides and Cabinet members to help raise money for it.

Super PACs have come to dominate spending in the GOP primaries because they are allowed to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money on elections.

The host of HBO's "Real Time With Bill Maher" announced his donation Thursday during a webcast for a Yahoo! standup comedy series.

"Most important advice I ever got in show business, as true today as then: Always bring your wallet onstage," Maher said in a Twitter post.

Priorities USA Action sent its own tweet, thanking Maher for his “generous donation.”

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