House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) defended the “Boehner for Speaker” political action committee Sunday, arguing it is simply aimed at raising funds for candidates this fall. The PAC, which has targeted major donors, lobbyists and executives, touts unique access to Boehner for top donors.

During a joint interview on “Fox News Sunday” with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Boehner sought to downplay the significance of the PAC, insisting that it is a standard project of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

“It’s not unlike any other project, Democrat or Republican, when it comes to raising the kind of cash that needs to be raised,” Boehner said. “People don’t need to have special access to me.”

McConnell dismissed any comparisons between the McConnell Center at the University of Louisville and an education center set up by Rep. Charlie Rangel at City College of New York that has been at the heart of the New York Democrat’s ethics problems. A House ethics subcommittee charged Rangel last week with 13 counts of wrongdoing related to his fundraising work for the center and other allegations.

The two programs are different situations, McConnell said. “This is a scholarship program. … I don’t see any comparability to the Rangel matter,” he added. “I don’t have an office there. I haven’t used any facilities to raise money.”

McConnell and Boehner both sought to temper expectations for the GOP in this fall’s midterm elections, warning that Republicans need to continue to work on making gains. The GOP needs to “remember there’s still three months to go,” McConnell said. “It’s a long time until November.”

Boehner agreed. “I think we’ve had a pretty good year, but we’ve got a lot of work to do,” he said.