RNC, Romney Operatives Join Forces With New Firm

Mitt Romney's former campaign manager is joining forces with the Republican National Committee's research director to form an outside rapid response group to conduct research and spin against Democratic candidates.

“We plan to start this enterprise because so many Republicans seem to agree there is a need on our side of the aisle for an entity that is focused solely on holding Democrats accountable for their actions and records using research, candidate tracking, rapid response, and digital tools,” Matt Rhoades, who managed Romney's campaign, told Politico.

Joe Pounder, the RNC's current research director, will join Rhoades in the venture called America Rising, which serves as a super PAC and limited liability company, Politico noted Thursday.

The Democrats have a similar opposition group, American Bridge.

The two Republicans plan to put money immediately into creating an online presence that will be used to target and define Democrats early in both the midterm and 2016 elections.

They said their primary focus will be on the 2016 Democratic presidential field, which, at least for now, may mean a lot of research and other activities aimed at discouraging a possible run by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

They also plan to begin shaping narratives that could be used against other Democrats should Clinton decide not to run.

The RNC is expected to back America Rising, which also plans to address many of the problems outlined in GOP Chairman Reince Priebus's report released earlier this week detailing the party's failure to recognize the country's new political demographics.

“The Growth and Opportunity Project report noted the need for conservative groups to help on the research front and we’re excited about the efforts of groups like America Rising that will further strengthen the future of the Republican Party,” said RNC spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski.