Anti-incumbent super-PAC close to targeting Rangel

The Campaign for Primary Accountability, a big-spending anti-incumbent super-PAC, may spend against long-time Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.), the group's spokesman told The Hill Monday evening.

"We are looking very closely at Charlie Rangel and are going to make a decision on that in a matter of days — we're very close to getting involved there," said group spokesman Curtis Ellis. "We're looking over his challengers there and seeing how that's shaping up. it's a multi-candidate race, so we're looking at their finance reports."

This is the latest bad news for Rangel — White House Press Secretary Jay Carney declined to say on Monday whether President Obama would definitely back him in his reelection bid, saying he'd have to check with Obama.

New York state Sen. Adriano Espaillat (D) and former Democratic National Committee Political Director Clyde Williams are both challenging the 21-term lawmaker, who easily fended off a primary challenge two years ago. But this time redistricting has made his job harder: The African American community in Harlem has been shrinking for years and the new district has more white and Hispanic voters.

The group could be a major player in the race: They've spent more than $200,000 apiece on a number of races, and can claim at least some credit for knocking off Reps. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), Don Manzullo (R-Ill.) and Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio).

Ellis said the group would announce its decision on Rangel within the next three days.

One member the group won't target after all: Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), who they'd initially planned to go after. "We dropped him because his challenger just wasn't measuring up," Ellis said.

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