Maybe they used a tactic the left has been using for years: Have a few people set up a small office with a fax machine, then make some nice looking business cards and letterheads, and start faxing and writing letters to influential people acting like they're the premiere organization serving a special interest.

Eventually a few rich people, influential people and media leaders take the bait, which then lures more important people in ad finitum until those few people are raking in donations and new connections. All the while they do favors, return favors, dish out endorsements and exert their own power over people to further their causes.