Washington (CNN) An ally of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has formally launched an outside group to help the former vice president navigate the primary and defend against attacks from President Donald Trump.

Larry Rasky, a former campaign aide to Biden, is listed as treasurer of the newly renamed super PAC, dubbed Unite the Country, according to a filing with the Federal Election Commission.

The move comes just days after Biden's campaign signaled it had dropped its objections to financial help from a super PAC, which can raise and spend unlimited amounts but must operate independently of the candidate it supports.

"In this time of crisis in our politics, it is not surprising that those who are dedicated to defeating Donald Trump are organizing in every way permitted by current law to bring an end to his disastrous presidency," Kate Bedingfield, Biden's deputy campaign manager, said in a statement last week. "Nothing changes unless we defeat Donald Trump."

The announcement came after CNN reported a coalition of top Democratic strategists and donors loyal to Biden were moving closer to setting up a super PAC to help the former vice president defend against a well-funded onslaught from Trump and the Republican National Committee.

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