Baker-linked super PAC spends $100,000 on behalf of Amore

A SUPER PAC with ties to Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday reported spending $100,000 on digital advertising on behalf of Anthony Amore, the Republican running for auditor against Democratic Sen. Diana DiZoglio.

Baker has endorsed Amore and campaigned on his behalf, but this is the first time the Massachusetts Majority super PAC has weighed in in the auditor’s race. The $100,000 appears to be the PAC’s largest single expenditure ever.

Amore is facing an uphill battle against a candidate who has wider name recognition and the strong backing of public sector unions. Amore, who is working a full-time job at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum while mounting his campaign, has spent $143,154 from his own campaign account so far this year.

Super PACs can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money, but they are barred from coordinating with any candidates they support. The Massachusetts Majority super PAC says its goal is to help elect centrist candidates from both parties.

The Massachusetts Majority super PAC reported Wednesday that over the last five days it spent more than $311,000 on behalf of 28 candidates – 23 Republicans, three Democrats, one Independent, and one unenrolled.

Aside from Amore, all of the candidates supported by the Massachusetts Majority super PAC in its latest filing received previous support. Since the primary, the super PAC has spent a total of $735,643 supporting various candidates, mostly for the Legislature.

Massachusetts Majority earlier this month spent $32,125 on behalf of Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson, a Republican who is facing a challenge from Democratic Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux, but nothing over the last five days.

The super PAC spent $19,414 on direct mail advertising on behalf of incumbent Republican Sen. Patrick O’Connor of Weymouth during the five-day period. It also backed three Republicans running for the Senate — Rep. Shawn Dooley ($12,551), who is challenging incumbent Sen. Becca Rausch of Needham; Ed Dombroski Jr. ($13,370), who is challenging incumbent Sen. Jason Lewis o Winchester; and William Johnson ($14,687), who is running against Rep. Jacob Oliveira of Ludlow for the Senate seat being vacated by Eric Lesser.

The Massachusetts Majority super PAC also raised $177,000 over the five-day period — $100,000 from Granite Telecom CEO Robert Hale, $25,000 from New England Development chairman Stephen Karp, and $50,000 from Rand-Whitney Containerboard, a company owned by the Kraft (as in Patriots owner Robert Kraft) Group.