Nation: End of Quarter Sends Candidates to D.C.
A parade of top Republican candidates are in town this week, looking to fill their campaign coffers with Washington, D.C., dollars ahead of the June 30 Federal Election Commission filing deadline.
On Wednesday, former Ruth’s Chris Steak House CEO Craig Miller, who is hoping to take on Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (D) in Florida’s battleground 24th district, held a pair of fundraisers at two of D.C.’s swankiest dining venues. The first was a lunch hosted by the National Restaurant Association at Sonoma on Capitol Hill. The second was a $100-per-person reception at the Palm Restaurant.
A big fundraising performance by Miller this quarter would help him demonstrate support in his battle against a pair of local elected officials in the GOP primary.
Since joining the race in late February, Miller has mostly been known for his ability to self-fund. Last week, he cut a $100,000 check to his campaign to finance his first television ad. So far, he’s put $340,000 of his own money into the contest.
Montgomery City Councilwoman Martha Roby, who is running against Rep. Bobby Bright (D) in Alabama’s 2nd district, was feted Wednesday at a $250-per-person event at the Capitol Hill Club. That reception was headlined by GOP Conference Vice Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Wash.), Chief Deputy Minority Whip Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) and Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (Ga.).
Today, former U.S. Attorney Tim Griffin, who is running in Arkansas’ open 2nd district, is set to hold an evening reception at the Rookery, a popular local nightspot.
Other GOP candidates who are in town on fundraising business this week are South Carolina state Sen. Mick Mulvaney, who is challenging House Budget Chairman John Spratt (D) in the state’s 5th district, and Rogers Mayor Steve Womack, who is virtually a lock to win Arkansas’ open 3rd district.
Last week, the fundraising visitors included GOP candidates Alan Nunnelee, who’s running in Mississippi’s 1st district; Rick Crawford, running in Arkansas’ 1st district; and Mo Brooks, running in Alabama’s 5th district.