Without DeLay

November 15, 2007
By David M. Drucker,
Roll Call Staff

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) is set today to launch the Coalition for a Conservative Majority, a 501(c)(4) entity that bills itself as a grass-roots action and advocacy organization.

CCM, a DeLay brainchild, actually will be headed by former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell (R), who lost his 2006 gubernatorial bid to then-Rep. Ted Strickland (D). But DeLay is helping to establish CCM as a viable group and is in the midst of raising money for the venture and building its infrastructure.

One Republican strategist familiar with CCM said the organization could prove invaluable to the GOP in 2008 and beyond.

"Pairing staunch conservatives like Tom DeLay and Ken Blackwell together in what sounds like a political guerrilla operation may be just what it takes to turn the 'vast right-wing conspiracy' on to a new form of activism," the strategist said.

CCM plans to establish several local chapters in major media markets throughout the country (a meeting of the Houston chapter, in DeLay's political backyard, is scheduled for Nov. 27). CCM particularly is targeting those media markets where left-of-center advocacy groups and 527s are operating.

Through these chapters and Blackwell's personal outreach, CCM plans to "identify, recruit, train, inspire, activate and mobilize conservative activists to take specific action on policy issues and political causes" nationwide, according to an advance copy of the group's brochure obtained by Roll Call.

Moving forward, DeLay will remain active in CCM, in particular as honorary finance chairman. DeLay has spent the past year building the foundation of the organization and preparing it for launch. Blackwell is serving as CCM's chairman.

In addition to its physical presence and activity, which includes plans to make direct appeals to Members of Congress, CCM intends to have a strong Internet presence.

Chris Perkins is serving as CCM's executive director and will be based in Washington, D.C., where he will oversee additional staff. Perkins formerly served as vice president of the now-defunct Free Enterprise Fund and previously worked at Americans for a Republican Majority, the political action committee DeLay ran when he served in the House.

DeLay, who is under indictment in Texas and accused of violating campaign laws, resigned his suburban Houston House seat in June 2006 and now runs First Principles LLC, a Washington, D.C.-based political consulting firm.