Gov. Rick Snyder is forming a political action committee called "One Tough Nerd," stirring speculation he needs more financial muscle to win approval of his controversial bridge plan.

Paperwork to form the "One Tough Nerd" committee was recently filed with the Michigan Secretary of State. Snyder's press secretary, Sara Wurfel, confirmed Thursday the PAC is Snyder's.

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Both of Snyder's predecessors, Democrat Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Republican Gov. John Engler, had similar committees they used for political fund-raising and expenditures not directly related to their election campaigns. Such entities are commonly known as "leadership PACs," and governors typically use them to give financial support to the campaigns of state lawmakers and other government officials or candidates.

But unlike Granholm or Engler, Snyder refused to accept PAC donations during his campaign for governor in 2010. Corporations and lobbying groups often form PACs, and Snyder said during the campaign he refused to accept PAC money to show that he would not be beholden to special interests.

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