Type of organization: Super PAC

Supports candidate: Rick Perry

Founded: July 28, 2011

Website: www.makeusgreatagain.com

Social media: Facebook page, Twitter profile

Principals:

• Mike Toomey (founder): Former chief of staff to Perry, lobbyist for Merck.
• Paul Kilgore (treasurer): Former aide to late Georgia Republican Sen. Paul Coverdell, runs a political financial consulting company called PDS Compliance in Athens.

Profile:

When Rick Perry announced he was entering the race, the assumption was that he would be an instant contender with a serious war chest, driven in part by big donors like home builder Bob Perry. The Texas governor lasted only a few months before fading following a series of gaffes and eventually dropping out of the race. But his fundraising network lived up to its expectations.

Make Us Great Again’s website makes its mission clear: “to support Rick Perry for the Republican nomination for President in 2012, to oppose Barack Obama’s reelection, and to support Rick Perry in the general election in November 2012.” The group was founded by Mike Toomey, a former chief of staff to Perry. Toomey has also been connected to Citizens for a Greater America, a group launched by Perry allies as a 501(c)(4), meaning it can accept unlimited, undisclosed donations. The largest donor was Contran Corp., the company of Texas super-donor Harold Simmons.

The closeness of the super PAC to Perry’s campaign was cause for some controversy, leading several good government groups to file a complaint with the FEC. The groups claimed that Make Us Great Again shared video with the Perry campaign to be used in advertisements.

It is unclear what will happen with the PAC now that Perry has dropped out of the race and endorsed Newt Gingrich. Perry is not term limited in Texas and may make another run for governor. The PAC has not filed with the FEC since January 31st. 

See more data on Make Us Great Again at OpenSecrets.org, or more background information at FactCheck.org.

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• The PAC never went negative, spending nearly $4 million on ads supporting Perry, according to Federal Election Commission records.

Last updated: April 23, 2012