Fredreka Schouten

USA TODAY

%22Action%22 is the most commonly used word in super PAC names

%22America%22 is also popular

Vague-sounding names make it hard to tell whether a super PAC is aligned with Republicans or Democrats

WASHINGTON — Despite their names, Americans for Progressive Action never backed a single liberal Democrat, and no actual cowboys gave money to the Cowboy PAC.

In the rapidly expanding world of unlimited campaign spending, most super PACs cloak their identities in patriotic-sounding but hard-to-pin down monikers. While some of these political action committees, such as Planned Parenthood Votes or the Clermont County Republican Leadership PAC, make their political persuasion abundantly clear, many more represent anonymous "voters," "workers" or "families" who promote ideals like "liberty," "growth" or "freedom."

One Republican-aligned group is called simply: Super PAC for America.

"They are trying to blur who they are," Bill Allison of the Sunlight Foundation said of the proliferation of vague names. His group tracks campaign money.

"They want the focus to not be on the name, but on the content of their ads," he said. "I'm surprised we haven't had the Cute Puppies and Kittens super PAC yet."

"Action" was a commonly used word in super PAC names — invoked 45 times, according to a "word cloud" analysis of the 244 super PACs that reported financial activity in 2013. But America and American also were top picks, used 28 and 27 times, respectively.

Both words are employed in the lofty-sounding titles of two super PACs created to dig up dirt on political rivals: American Bridge 21st Century is the opposition arm for Democratic groups, while America Rising handles those duties for Republicans.

Americans for Progressive Action, meanwhile, operated like the super PAC equivalent of a temporary, pop-up retail store. It started last June — 19 days before a special election to fill a U.S. Senate seat in the Democratic stronghold of Massachusetts and shut down last month. In between the two dates, it spent more than $1.3 million on Republican Gabriel Gomez's unsuccessful bid for the vacant seat.

Its funder: California Republican and winery CEO John Jordan. Jordan said he launched the super PAC as a "rescue mission" to help Gomez, who was being pummeled by Democratic groups supporting the eventual winner, Edward Markey.

Why the liberal-sounding name? "I don't think either party owns a word," said Jordan, chief executive of Jordan Vineyard & Winery. "I think making 'progress' out of Obamacare is a good thing."

Although he has shuttered Americans for Progressive Action, Jordan said he "probably" will become active in politics again.

The Cowboy PAC, which supported Republican Liz Cheney's short-lived bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Wyoming, took in no contributions from in-state cattle wranglers. Instead, it most of its money came from well-connected inside-the-Beltway figures, including Frank Carlucci, a former Defense secretary.

Some of the other super PACs that are expected to be active this year and their allegiances:

Priorities USA Action, the main super PAC that backed President Obama's re-election in 2012, is gearing up to support Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign in 2016, if she decides to run.

The Kentuckians for Strong Leadership PAC backs the re-election of Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Senate's top Republican. It took in $2.4 million in 2013, but received just two donations totaling $20,000 from Bluegrass State residents during the 12-month period. We are Kentucky, the super PAC aiding his Democratic rival Alison Lundergan Grimes, raised $260,500. A single $500 donation came from an in-state contributor.

Values are Vital, started by a South Florida homebuilder, plans to back a Republican to fill the seat left vacant by former Rep.Trey Radel. The Florida Republican recently resigned from Congress after pleading guilty to misdemeanor cocaine possession.

Follow @fschouten on Twitter.