Mayor Michael Bloomberg. (Photo: Getty)

Mayor Michael Bloomberg made a splash by endorsing President Barack Obama this afternoon, however the billionaire's backing won't come with any campaign cash from the mayor's new super PAC. Sources familiar with Mayor Bloomberg's plans told Politicker "his PAC is not going to be contributing to the president's campaign."

Mayor Bloomberg created his super PAC, Independence USA, last month. At the time of its launch, the PAC pledged to spend $10 million to $15 million during this year's election cycle on "candidates from both parties who pledge to work in a bipartisan fashion."

So far, Mayor Bloomberg's PAC has spent at least $1.4 million that has gone to both Democrats and Republicans. As of this writing, Howard Wolfson, a deputy mayor who took a leave from City Hall to head the PAC on the mayor's behalf, has not responded to a request for comment on this story.

An image from the flyer for the Downtown 4 Democracy debate party.

Downtown 4 Democracy, the anti-Tea Party "hipster PAC" is teaming up with Vice magazine to host a watch party for the first presidential debate on October 3 with well-appointed "swag bags" chock full of politically-themed goodies from several big name designers and chefs. The event, which will be held at the Jane Hotel, will also include a DJ set by the "experimental pop duo" Tanlines.

Tickets for the debate party start at $25, but the "swag bag" will only be available to attendees who fork over $250 for "VIP seating." The  gift bag will feature goodies from Opening Ceremony, 3.1 Philip Lim, Rizzoli, Momofuku Milk Bar, The Smile and Neistat Studio along with t-shirts designed by Chrissie Miller, Andrew Kuo, Deer Dana and Curtis Kulig. Guests who opt for the "swag bag" will also receive political buttons made by Elizabeth Peyton and Rirkrit Tiravanija.

Downtown 4 Democracy was founded in 2003 to "organize artists around the Bush/Kerry presidential election." The group has three goals for this year's election; raising "awareness in the creative community," registering voters and raising money "that will go towards unseating a targeted list of Tea Party incumbents who won office in 2010." So far, Downtown 4 Democracy's 2012 events have drawn an eclectic mix of celebrities and liberal wonks including; chef Mario Batali, rapper Mos Def, Girls star Lena Dunham, Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson and MSNBC host Alex Wagner.

View the full flyer for the Downtown 4 Democracy debate party below. In keeping with the evening's theme, it's a remix of an old gallery advertisement for a show with downtown darlings Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Hall & Oates

On Monday, the Federal Election Commission officially recognized a super PAC called "Hall and Oates Fans For America." William Hansmann, a 36-year-old waiter in Atlanta, told Politicker he and "a handful" of friends decided to form a PAC named after the aging "Rich Girl" rockers after having a few drinks together.

"It was really just kind of a joke a couple of us came up with drunk one night. I wish I could say there was more to it, but that's about it," said Mr. Hansmann.

One of the people at this booze-fueled brainstorming session looked into actually forming a super PAC and Mr. Hansmann said they were "kind of surprised just how easy it was."

According to Mr. Hansmann, the goal of "Hall and Oates Fans For America" is to create parody videos on YouTube.

"We've got some cameras and we came up with some ideas that we wanted to shoot," he said.

Though the group borrowed their name from the pair of post-disco pop hitmakers, the PAC's videos won't necessarily be Hall & Oates-themed. Mr. Hansmann said he and his buddies picked the name "Hall and Oates Fans For America" because it's "as bipartisan a name that any American could support as there could be."

"When we hit on Hall & Oates, we were just like, who doesn't love Hall & Oates?" Mr. Hansmann explained.

Though the PAC is bipartisan, Mr. Hansmann described himself as a dues paying member of the Libertarian Party who got "tired of watching the Democrats get beat up over the last two years." Despite his political leanings, Mr. Hansmann assured us "some of my friends who are involved in this project aren't on the same page as me."

"We're just a couple patriots with a sense of humor," said Mr. Hansmann.

Mr. Hansmann said the PAC is "just getting started" and hopes to release its first video September 3. So far, he said "Hall and Oates Fans for America" hasn't received any donations, but he encouraged supporters to open their wallets.

"Hey man, when that money starts rolling in, it'll be anonymous and we'll be happy to use that money to make any other videos we can make," he said.

Nascar driver Ken Schrader (Photo: FASLaneRacing.com)

Special Operations for America, the pro-Mitt Romney political action committee formed by former Navy SEAL Team Six Commander Ryan Zinke will be sponsoring a car at NASCAR's Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis International Raceway this Sunday. FAS Lane racing's Sprint Cup Series #32 car, which is being driven by Ken Schrader, will sport the SOFA name and logo along with website information and the slogan "Join The Battle."

“We’re proud to be part of NASCAR and this opportunity to reach millions of voters who share our time-honored, conservative values,” Mr. Zinke said in a statement. “This is the type of grassroots effort that is needed in order to elect leaders who will restore America to its founding principles.”

Mr. Zinke, a Republican Montana State Senator announced the launch of SOFA last week. The PAC is dedicated to "advocat[ing] for the election of Mitt Romney and other candidates who want to bring true leadership back to Washington along with an enduring belief in American Exceptionalism."

During a Navy career that lasted over two decades, Mr. Zinke served two stints as a member of SEAL Team Six, the elite unit that killed Osama Bin Laden. He held several titles with the unit including Task Force Commander. Mr. Zinke was assigned as Deputy and acting Commander, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in 2004. He retired as a Navy SEAL four years later and ran for State Senate in Montana.

Mr. Zinke has frequently criticized President Barack Obama for politicizing the SEAL raid that killed Bin Laden.

“The President has failed and he is jeopardizing the safety of our troops, their families and our National security for political gain. Obama has exposed the identity of special operations units, leaked classified information, and limited the rules of engagement of forces on the ground,” Mr. Zinke said in a statement announcing the launch of the PAC.

Ryan Zinke in his Navy days. (Photo: IraqVetsForCongress.com)

Today, Ryan Zinke, an ex-Navy SEAL and Montana State Senator, announced the launch of Special Operations for America, a political action committee dedicated to "the election of Mitt Romney and like-minded candidates."

"Navy SEAL’s, Special Operations Personnel and Veteran’s across America have been outraged since Barack Obama conveniently took credit for killing Osama Bin Laden for political gain," a statement announcing the launch of SOFA said. "The active duty military has no voice as they are forbidden to publicly engage in the political campaign process and it is career suicide for senior military leaders to speak out against the President."

Mr. Zinke, who has frequently slammed the president's handling of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, reiterated his criticisms of the operation.

"The President has failed and he is jeopardizing the safety of our troops, their families and our National security for political gain. Obama has exposed the identity of special operations units, leaked classified information, and limited the rules of engagement of forces on the ground," said Mr. Zinke. "For those who have taken an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, both foreign and domestic, it is a call of duty to take back America from a Commander-in-Chief that is incapable of understanding the sacrifices that have been made for the values that have made America great."

Mr. Zinke has served in the Montana State Senate since 2009. According to Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans for Congress, a political action committee dedicated to electing Republican vets, Mr. Zinke was a member of SEAL Team Six, the elite unit that killed Bin Laden, from 1990 until 1993 and from 1996 until 1999. He held several titles including Task Force Commander. In 2004, Mr. Zinke was named "Deputy and acting Commander, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM" in that capacity he "led a force of over 3500 Special Operations personnel in Iraq in the conduct of 360 combat patrols, 48 Direct Action missions, and hundreds of sensitive operations" and "was responsible for killing or capturing 72 known enemy insurgents and terrorists."

(Photo: Getty)

Thanks to the Obama campaign's attacks on Mitt Romney's career with Bain Capital, private equity has been thrust into the spotlight  on the campaign trail with partisans on both sides debating whether the industry has a negative effect on the country. Private Equity Growth Capital Council, a political action committee that was formed in 2007 by several of the country’s largest private equity firms, has responded with a series of videos  "aimed at educating media, policy makers and the public about the private equity industry and its positive contributions to the American economy."

"The presidential election has brought the private equity business model into sharp focus. But sometimes lost in the political debate is the positive impact private equity brings to the companies in which they invest," read a statement from PEGCC announcing their latest video.

The video series, which is entitled Private Equity at Work, highlights examples of companies that have been helped by private equity. A "national coupon and reverse logistics processing company" called Inmar is the latest video case study featured in the series.

“In 2011, private equity firms pumped $144 billion into 1,702 companies, and Inmar is just one of many hugely successful stories.  This new video illustrates yet another example of private equity growing and strengthening companies, and we are proud to add the Inmar case study to our collection of private equity success stories,” Steve Judge, President and CEO of PEGCC, said in a statement announcing the video.  “Private equity is part of the long-term solution for our country’s economic recovery.”

Members of PEGCC include 36 of the world's largest private equity firms including The Blackstone Group, The Carlyle Group and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. Bain Capital was a founding member of the PEGCC, but it is no longer part of the group. Along with its efforts to promote private equity, the PEGCC makes substantial donations to political candidates.

Watch the PEGCC's latest video below.

Congressman Joe Crowley (Photo: House of Representatives)

The Private Equity & Growth Capital Council, which was formed in 2007 by several of the country's largest private equity firms, quietly formed a political action committee last spring and began making campaign contributions this past summer. New York City Congressman Joe Crowley was one of the top Democratic beneficiaries of donations from the private equity PAC. 

PEGCC spokesman Ken Spain told Fortune's Dan Primack the purpose of the private equity PAC was to support candidates who "understand the important role that private equity plays in driving economic growth, strengthening businesses and providing financial security to millions of Americans by delivering superior returns to public and private pension funds."

Last year, PEGCC's PAC mostly gave money to Republicans. Campaign finance reports show it gave roughly two-thirds of the $98,000 it spent during the last year to GOP politicians. Republican Congressmen Orrin Hatch and Spencer Bachus got the most money from PEGCC with $10,000 apiece. The Democratic politicians who received the most money from the private equity PAC were South Dakota Congressman Tim Johnson and Mr. Crowley, who each received contributions of $5,000 from PEGCC.

Private Equity has become something of a political bogeyman in this year's presidential election with Republican candidate Mitt Romney taking a great deal of heat on the campaign trail for his career with private equity firm Bain Capital. Bain was one of the original members of PEGCC, but it has since left the group.

In 2010, Mr. Crowley, who is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, came under scrutiny for his contributions from the financial industry. That fall, the House Ethics Committee conducted a probe of Mr. Crowley after he collected $23,500 in donations from financial industry executives at series of fundraisers held in late 2009, just before he voted on legislation to impose tougher restrictions on Wall Street. The Ethics Committee dropped their investigation of Mr. Crowley in January 2011 and released a report saying the probe  "raised no appearances of impropriety."

Mr. Crowley represents the 7th Congressional District, which includes parts of Queens and The Bronx.