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Priorities USA and American Bridge, two super PACs readying donors and research for an all-but-certain presidential run by Hillary Clinton, are at odds after a private dispute over fundraising turned public and acrimonious over the last several days, according to a source familiar with discussions between the two groups.

David Brock, longtime Clinton defender and the founder of pro-Clinton messaging group Correct the Record and liberal opposition research juggernaut American Bridge, resigned from his position on the board of Priorities USA, the leading pro-Clinton super PAC tasked with securing large donor contributions. His return to the board is uncertain as discussions between American Bridge and Priorities USA have been unable to resolve the estrangement, according to the source.

READ: Dems make up after Hillaryland spat

Brock quit the board Monday in protest of a New York Times story published Friday that questioned the fundraising practices of his groups, specifically that they pay a 12.5% commission to fundraising adviser Mary Pat Bonner for the donor loot she delivers. It's a practice Brock stands by.

In a letter to Priorities USA co-chairs Jim Messina -- who managed President Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign -- and former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Brock alleged that current and former Priorities officials had pedaled the story to the Times to damage him. Those officials denied leaking the information, according to multiple sources.

Monday night, as the internal spat became public and created an aura of infighting and dysfunction around the pro-Clinton outside groups, Democrats close to Clinton intervened, urging both sides to make amends. Granholm and Brock released hurried statements pledging to hammer out their differences.

But on Tuesday, the feud was alive and well, as concerns surfaced that Priorities fundraising efforts are falling short, according to a story first reported by Politico.

Priorities fundraising goal for the first three months of 2015 is to secure up to 50 pledges of $1 million each from donors, a source familiar with the targets tells CNN. Almost halfway to the fundraising quarter, Priorities has secured less than 10 such pledges, due, the source says, to the PAC lacking a designated heavy-hitter who focuses full-time on fundraising.

"They're nowhere," the source told CNN. "It's terrible. They have to figure this out because you see what the Kochs are doing," referring to the Koch brothers, conservative billionaire mega-funders.

Priorities' overall goal is to raise $300-$500 million for 2016, but according to the source, there are some within Clinton's orbit that think the goal should be higher given the Clinton name and the family's fundraising ability. Some at Priorities, according to the source, are concerned that they will not be able meet expectations.

Originally posted here:
Despite public makeup, pro-Clinton groups are very much at odds