RNC to Boost NRCC With Joint Fundraising
The Republican National Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee are set to form a joint fundraising committee with the goal of supporting GOP House candidates on the fall ballot, Roll Call learned late Friday.
According to a Republican strategist familiar with situation, the joint RNC-NRCC fundraising committee is set to be up and running in the coming days. Lobbyist Bill Paxon, a former NRCC chairman and ex-New York Congressman, will head the joint fundraising committee.
The strategist described this new joint fundraising committee as a way for House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), NRCC Chairman Tom Cole (Okla.) and the RNC to collaborate on providing funds for GOP House candidates, both incumbents and challengers.
With just $6.7 million in cash on hand as of April 30 compared with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees $45.3 million, the NRCC needs the help and the RNC might be able to provide it.
While the NRCC and National Republican Senatorial Committee have been far outpaced on the fundraising front by their Democratic counterparts, the RNC has consistently raised and banked considerably more money than the Democratic National Committee.
As of May 31, the RNC had $53.6 million in the bank, while the DNC had only $4.4 million in cash on hand at the end of April. The RNC raised $23.7 million in May.
In addition to helping the NRCC on the fundraising front, the RNCs Victory program, which is focused on voter turnout and registration in key states for Sen. John McCains (Ariz.) presidential bid, is expected to boost downballot Republicans, including GOP House candidates.
Meanwhile, the NRCC is expected this week to reveal the results of a forensic audit that was conducted after it was learned that the committees former treasurer, Christopher Ward, had misappropriated hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds.
The audit was conducted as part of an FBI investigation into Wards actions, which occurred before Cole assumed control of the NRCC in late 2006.