The Independent View: Bloomberg's Independence USA and Everytown for Gun Safety super PACs

Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg emerged as the major contributor to a super PAC backing Georgia Democrat Michelle Nunn’s Senate campaign against Republican David Perdue.

Mr. Bloomberg made a $350,000 contribution to Georgians Together, bringing the PAC’s combined receipts to $443,500 for the quarter ended Sept. 30, and $513,500 for the year, according to the group’s federal campaign finance report released Wednesday. His mid-September contribution came two days after his nemesis, the National Rifle Association, began airing an ad tying Ms. Nunn and Mr. Bloomberg together.

Mr. Bloomberg’s support for Ms. Nunn’s super PAC comes in a personal check from the former mayor. A super PAC he funds, Independence USA, is also funding ads boosting Michigan’s GOP Gov. Rick Snyder, among other candidates. Mr. Bloomberg has long been close to Ms. Nunn’s father, former Sen. Sam Nunn. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the two considered running for president together in 2008.

The Nunn campaign has claimed momentum in the last two weeks. It now has two advertisements of its own highlighting a nine-year-old deposition in which Mr. Perdue said he spent his career outsourcing jobs. After Mr. Perdue led eight public polls in a row going back to early September, one survey released this week showed the race tied and another has Ms. Nunn in the lead.

From the Independence USA website:

Michael R. Bloomberg has created a new major effort to support candidates and referenda in local, state and Federal races across the country, with a focus on issues including gun laws, education policy and marriage equality. The effort will support moderates on both sides of the aisle – as well as independents –who have shown a willingness to work in a bi-partisan fashion. It will also target candidates who support– and oppose– efforts to crack down on illegal guns and reform education policy.

"It's critically important that we have elected officials in Washington, Albany, and around the nation who are willing to work across party lines to achieve real results," Mayor Bloomberg said. "I've always believed in the need for more independent leadership, and this new effort will support candidates and causes that will help protect Americans from the scourge of gun violence, improve our schools, and advance our freedoms."

This effort is a continuation of Mayor Bloomberg's long history of supporting candidates and referenda that reflect his independent and non-partisan approach to government.

Another super PAC, Everytown for Gun Safety, endorsed 78 candidates running for federal office this year, the list was heavy on incumbents.

Everytown endorsed 61 House members, 53 of whom are incumbents. Of the other eight, five are Democrats running for open seats being vacated by Democrats and two are Democrats running in open seats being vacated by Republicans. Only one, Democrat Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey, is running against an incumbent, GOP Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen.

In the Senate, Everytown endorsed 16 Democrats, all but two of whom are incumbents, and GOP Sen. Susan Collins (R., Maine).&nbsb; The group also backed Democratic Reps. Bruce Braley of Iowa and Gary Peters of Michigan, who are running to hold Democratic Senate seats in their states.