The message “PATRICIA MORGAN WORKING FOR YOU” overlays an image of the Point Judith Lighthouse on Roosevelt Society Action’s website. This site is now linked at the end of the super PAC’s commercials. Previously it was for the Roosevelt Institute, a New York City-based progressive economic think tank. (Screenshot)
The super PAC supporting Republican Patricia Morgan’s bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) has revised its commercial after Rhode Island Current reported Thursday that a website at the end of a 30-second ad spot was associated with an unrelated New York-based think tank.
Rhode Island Current found the ad from Roosevelt Society Action referred viewers to rooseveltinstitute.org, the website for a progressive economic think tank in New York City connected to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
The use of the URL came as a shock to the institute, whose spokesperson said it planned to take action against the PAC after it was alerted to its existence by Rhode Island Current.
Super PAC money flowing into R.I.’s U.S. Senate race leaves even the candidate it benefits confused
Now listed in an ad posted on the PAC’s YouTube channel is rooseveltsocietyaction.com. The website includes an all caps message — “PATRICIA MORGAN IS WORKING FOR YOU” — along with a headshot of Morgan inside a Rhode Island map and a photo of her shaking hands with a member of the military.
The PAC was formed in mid-September and has at least $200,000 to spend in Rhode Island, according to filings with the Federal Elections Commission. But who exactly is behind the group is somewhat of a mystery.
Thomas Datwyler, a consultant who has headed up financial operations for dozens of GOP candidates and causes, told Rhode Island Current Thursday that a Florida couple are supposedly the primary funders. He declined to reveal their names.
The PAC’s listed treasurer, Kayla Glaze, did not immediately respond to request for comment Friday.
“Perfect example of creepy dark money: Rhode Islanders don’t know who funded this, where they got candidate footage, why they lied about website, or how the out-of-staters figure in their apparently false filings,” Whitehouse wrote in a post on X. “No wonder people are fed up.”
Morgan declined to comment on the sudden correction of the website address on the commercial.
“I’m running my campaign, I’m not worried about what they’re doing,” Morgan said. “I have no control. I have no communication with them.”
The Whitehouse campaign did not immediately respond to request for comment on the PAC’s website correction.
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