Gary Johnson gets a super PAC

By Rachel Leven - 09/27/11 12:06 PM ET

A former member of Gary Johnson's presidential campaign staff has created a pro-Johnson super PAC.

Kelly Casaday filed the Freedom and Liberty political action committee’s paperwork Monday evening with the Federal Election Commission. Casaday was a campaign adviser to the former New Mexico governor and has worked with him in several capacities for about two years.

“The other presidential candidates seem like they’ve been successful with their Super PACs, but Governor Johnson seems a little late,” Casaday said. “We hope it’ll make a difference in the campaign in the next few months.”

The super PAC will initially “focus on economic issues[,] Governor Johnson’s successes in New Mexico and comparing Governor Johnson to other Republican candidates for President,” Casaday told The Hill.

A large amount of the campaign's funding will be used to “ increas[e] the visibility” of Johnson through television, radio and Web advertisements, Casaday said.

Johnson supporters hope the increased exposure will keep the candidate in Republican debates, leading to a more publicized and successful campaign. The candidate recently participated in his second presidential debate on last week.

Johnson is widely considered an under-dog in the Republican presidential race, but his recent debate participation may have found him additional support. Since the debate, he received an endorsement from political consultant Roger Stone.

“I think he carried himself very well, that exposure did kick start the campaign very well and now I think we can do a better job of getting Gary Johnson’s message out to the people of the United States,” Casaday said.

Filing as an independent expenditure committee prohibits the super PAC from coordinating with the Johnson campaign on how its funds should be used. The former campaign adviser said he did not foresee this being an issue.

“I have a lot of friends on the campaign, but we’re not going to cross any lines ... It’ll be a shadow campaign,” Casaday said. “We have the same goals in mind, but we’re just ramped out on a second track.”