Liberal SuperPAC targets Duffy

A liberal Super political action committee is targeting 10 members of Congress they say are carrying the Tea Party torch. One is northern Wisconsin freshman Republican Congressman Sean Duffy.

Duffy says protesters are not only showing up at his appearances in the 7th Congressional District, but they’re literally going the extra mile and following him in his car. “This is a whole new level of politics. We’re being followed by a group of four of these radicals from San Francisco. And so, you look at that, and you can’t even do your job.”

The group is the California-based SuperPAC CREDO, which is spearheading an effort they call “Take Down the Tea Party 10.” CREDO President Becky Bond says they opened an office in Wausau and have dozens of local volunteers who track Duffy: “If you have to call a group of people who believe women should have access to birth control and healthcare, if you call us a left-wing radical group, then we’ll happily cop to that.”

Duffy’s Democratic challenger, former state Sen. Pat Kreitlow, says it’s ironic that Duffy is bugged by a SuperPAC. He says they exist because of the lack of campaign finance reform: “If Congressman Duffy were very serious about wanting to fix the influence of those big money PACs, he’d be much more pro-active rather than simply complaining when somebody takes a picture of him.”

Kreitlow says this is American “gotcha” politics in action. But Duffy says he’ll deal with it, “I’m going to continue to work my heart out, no matter how many outside groups come in and try to record and tape and track and put pressure on.”

All three say this congressional race will be watched closely not just by CREDO, but by both political parties.