Boston lobbyist Larry Rasky kicks into gear as his pal Joe Biden flips on Super PAC support

The head of a prominent Boston lobbying firm who has worked for foreign governments is running to the rescue of slumping Joe Biden with a new super PAC, just days after Biden flip-flopped and gave his blessing to the shadowy organizations known for their aggressive attack ads.

Larry Rasky, a longtime Biden confidant and strategist who until recently represented Azerbaijan, is helping lead the newly formed and generically titled Unite the Country, which says it will “defend against dishonest attacks” against the former vice president.

“They (the Biden campaign) don’t have, in my view, enough money to compete with the Democrats and against Trump,” Rasky said in an interview.
Rasky and others involved in the super PAC said the organization was formed primarily to fight against an unprecedented assault by Trump and his allies, including the Russians. Rasky said Unite the Country doesn’t plan on running attack ads against Biden’s Democratic opponents.

“That is not our intent,”  he said.

But here’s the reality — Biden is suddenly accepting help from the super PAC because his campaign is lagging behind his top Democratic rivals in some early primary states and more importantly, in fundraising.

Super PACs are free to spend unlimited funds and accept unlimited donations but are forbidden from directly coordinating with a campaign — in this case, the Biden campaign.

Earlier in the campaign, Biden said he was shunning super PACs and criticized them. As soon as Biden gave the word about his super PAC flip-flop, Unite the Country came along.

But Rasky, who is listed as the treasurer of Unite the Country, is already taking flak because of his firm’s work for the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Rasky worked as a registered foreign agent until Aug. 27 when his firm wrote a letter to the Department of Justice announcing it was terminating the contract with Azerbaijan.

Rasky said he decided to terminate the contract because it could become a “distraction” for him and the Biden campaign.

“It was a brief assignment,” he said. “I didn’t want it hanging around my neck.”

Biden has come under intense scrutiny because of his son’s work connected to foreign governments. President Trump has been especially critical of Hunter Biden’s work, and is now facing possible impeachment for encouraging Ukraine to investigate the Bidens.

Rasky said he expects to raise enough money for the super PAC to air ads, on TV and digital platforms, defending Biden and attacking Trump, and believes the former vice president will win in the end.

“He is going to hold up and he is going to be there in the end,” he said.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/321A3UA