Skip to content

Florida: Ex-Sen. Smith Low On Cash, High On Staff Loyalty

Former New Hampshire Sen. Robert Smith has raised little money for a long-shot 2010 Senate bid in his adopted state of Florida. But the Republican’s former staff certainly is loyal to him.

Smith raised just $17,421 in this year’s second quarter, a pittance compared to the raised by the leading Republican candidates, Gov. Charlie Crist ($4.3 million) and former state House Speaker Marco Rubio ($340,000). Smith’s few dozen donors included some former aides from his days representing New Hampshire in the Senate from 1991 through 2002.

Thomas L. Lankford, a former Smith defense aide who is now a vice president at Van Scoyoc Associates, gave $1,000 to his former boss.

Recent Stories

Trump orders strikes on Iran nuclear targets, including key facility

‘Two weeks’: GOP hawks left twisting on Iran after Trump resorts to familiar crutch

Supreme Court allows civil lawsuits against Palestinian groups

Appeals court backs Trump control of National Guard in LA, for now

Photos of the week | June 13-19, 2025

American businesses need a stable and competitive tax rate