Group airs new pro-Lankford commercial

A new not-for-profit corporation is wading into the U.S. Senate special election here in Oklahoma, this time on James Lankford's behalf.

The Foundation for Economic Prosperity, Inc launched the following TV commercial today, after placing a $178,000 ad buy over the weekend:



Trey Richardson of Oklahoma City is listed as the agent for the group. Here's some information about Richardson from his LinkedIn account:

"Trey Richardson is managing partner of Sagac Public Affairs and GR Pro, national companies providing communications, research, fundraising, issue advocacy and management solutions to hundreds of political, non-profit and corporate organizations. Known for his creativity, he has influenced the direction of political finance and issue advocacy activities throughout the United States for two decades.

Prior to Sagac and GR Pro,Trey led the political action operations of the National Association of Realtors, designing strategy and operations for the raising and distribution of all election-related funds. He also provided strategy and management for the Association’s partisan communications and issue advocacy efforts.

Trey began his career in the political division of the Oklahoma Republican Committee in 1986 under Congressman and then-Chairman Tom Cole. He continued that career path to the 2000 Bush/Cheney Presidential campaign and the Republican National Committee where his firm raised and managed online fundraising activities for the efforts. He is a veteran Presidential fundraiser having worked not only for George W. Bush, but John McCain, Mitt Romney, and Steve Forbes. He has led finance teams for congressional and gubernatorial candidates such as, Jim Inhofe, Mary Fallin, James Lankford, J.C. Watts, Tom Cole, Frank Lucas and Ernest Istook.

Trey has been named as one of the “Top Political Action Leaders in America” by industry publications, and has received numerous awards for association and government affairs programming. Trey has served in various leadership positions for the National Association of Business Political Action Committees, the American Association of Political Consultants, Association of Fundraising Professionals, American Society of Association Executives and The State Chamber of Oklahoma."

The Foundation for Economic Prosperity, Inc., isn't the first "Super PAC" to get behind Lankford: earlier this month, the First Amendment Alliance Education Fund spent $97,000 on a TV ad supporting Lankford.

Oklahomans for a Conservative Future, Inc., is the main group pushing T.W. Shannon's candidacy. OCF has spent over $435,000 so far in the race, running ads and sending out mailers on Shannon's behalf. OCF initially got into some hot water over filing as a for-profit corporation instead of a not-for-profit (they say it was a clerical error).