Spreading the GOP Wealth With an Eye on 2012
By Emily Cadei CQ-Roll Call
Its never too early to line up support for a presidential run so its not surprising that several possible 2012 Republican contenders are using their political action committees to dole out large amounts of cash to an array of GOP members and candidates this cycle. Leading the way in largesse are:
Romney also gave $5000 each to the PAC of the California Republican Assembly and Massachusetts Republican State Congressional Committee while Thune gave $5000 to the South Dakota Republican Party and $15000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Romney whose PAC raised $3.6 million in 2009 topping the field of potential 2012 candidates also spread his cash around to the widest array of recipients including:
- House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.) and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (Texas).
- Vulnerable Republican incumbents like Reps. Dan Lungren (Calif.) and Charlie Dent (Pa.)
- Open-seat Senate candidates Reps. Mark Kirk (Ill.) and Michael N. Castle (Del.).
- Special election candidates such as newly sworn-in Sen. Scott Brown (Mass.) and New York conservative third party candidate Doug Hoffman.
- Non-federal 2009 campaigns including those of Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling.
Also notable Romney made only two donations to congressional members who endorsed his 2008 presidential run. The rest went to those who backed primary rivals former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani or Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) or who stayed out of the primary entirely.
Despite her arms-length embrace of Washington D.C. former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin made $43500 in contributions from
Sarah PAC to congressional incumbents and a few open-seat candidates including well-established GOP members like:
- Sens. Charles E. Grassley (Iowa)
- Orrin G. Hatch (Utah)
- Lindsey Graham (S.C.)
- McCain with whom she shared the 2008 presidential ticket as well as
- Rep. Roy Blunt (Mo.) who is running for Senate.
She also gave $2500 each to potential 2012 rivals Thune and Sen. Jim DeMint (S.C.).
Sarah PAC donated another $8500 to state office candidates like McDonnell and Ohio gubernatorial candidate John Kasich.
In keeping with his grass-roots campaign approach former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee gave more to state candidates than federal candidates via his
Huck PAC in 2009. His total congressional contributions almost all to challengers and open-seat candidates was just $19000 but he gave another $22500 to candidates in state races for governor lieutenant governor attorney general and the state legislature.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty made $16800 in political contributions through his
Freedom First PAC which he just opened in the fall of 2009. Of its seven
donations three went to Minnesota House Republicans two to GOP special election candidates Brown and Hoffman and one to Sen. Richard M. Burr (N.C.) whom Democrats are trying to target in November.
Pawlenty spokesman Alex Conant said Freedom First is off to a good start.
We were able to support a handful candidates including Scott Brown and will support many more going forward" Conant said. Our goal going forward is to help shape the ideas debate and support the next generation of conservative leaders."
DeMint made $41000 in contributions via his two political action committees
Mint PAC and the
Senate Conservatives Fund. Mint PAC chipped in $5000 a
piece to three of DeMints Senate colleagues Thune Burr and Johnny Isakson (Ga.) all of whom are up for re-election in 2010 as well as $1000 for Rep. Zach Wamp s (Tenn.) gubernatorial campaign.
His Senate Conservative Fund gave the maximum $10000 contribution to GOP Senate candidates Marco Rubio of Florida and Chuck DeVore of California whom it has endorsed. The fund also gave $5000 to DeMints own Senate campaign.
And it channeled tens of thousands more via earmarked contributions from supporters to Rubio and candidates including former Pennsylvania Rep. Pat Toomey who is running for Senate in Pennsylvania and Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams also running for Senate as well Sen. Tom Coburn (Okla.) who scored a 96 percent on the groups 2008 Senate scorecard."
An aide to DeMint said that the two PACs are affiliated and share the same fundraising limits so for example a person who maxes out to Mint PAC cannot contribute to the Senate Conservative Fund.
