Rep. Rick Renzi (R) has scheduled a fundraiser that will be hosted by some of the biggest names in the House Republican Conference, including Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio); Chief Deputy Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.); National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole (Okla.) and Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), the former Speaker.

The Feb. 17 event, to be held at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, also is being hosted by GOP Reps. Tom Latham (Iowa) and Patrick McHenry (N.C.).

Renzi had a tougher-than-expected re-election contest in November against little-known attorney Ellen Simon (D), taking just 51 percent of the vote. But it is not yet clear whether the Democrats are going to field a top-tier challenger against him in 2008.
— David M. Drucker