CQ.com - MoneyLine

Ex-Bush Officials to Fundraise for Griffin in Ark.

Rep. Vic Snyder (D-Ark.) is sticking to his current non-fundraising pledge, while his Republican opponent is building his campaign warchest with the help of two heavy-hitters from the George W. Bush administration.
Former White House assistant Mary Matalin and former White House counsel Ed Gillespie -- who also served as chairman of the Republican National Committee -- will hold separate fundraisers on Dec. 7 in Little Rock for attorney Tim Griffin. Full story

Nov. 25, 2009 - 10:49 a.m.

Health Care Reform Opponents Launch New Ad Campaign

Business groups opposed to the Senate health care bill are continuing to press Congress to start over on health care reform. Two coalitions made up of 186 associations are launching a national cable television ad buy in nine states. Roll Call (paid content)

Nov. 25, 2009 - 10:59 a.m.

Verizon and Verizon Wireless to Merge In-House Lobbying Teams

Verizon Communications and Verizon Wireless are combining their in-house lobbying teams. Republican Peter Davidson, who has been heading Verizon’s lobbying team, will continue to oversee federal lobbying. Democrat Howard Woolley, who was in charge of Verizon Wireless’ lobbying team, will continue to lobby on wireless issues and will also now focus on outreach to the Obama administration. Roll Call (paid content)

Nov. 24, 2009 - 3:32 p.m.

60 Plus Association Targets Nine Senators With New Ad

The health care ad assault doesn’t take a break for Thanksgiving. The 60 Plus Association, the conservative response to the AARP, announced a $2 million ad buy going after eight centrist Democratic senators and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), the only member of the GOP who has been open to negotiations on the Senate’s health care legislation. Full story

Nov. 24, 2009 - 11:24 a.m.

Ward Gets GOP Fundraising Help For Race Against Rep. Minnick

House GOP leaders will host a fundraising reception next month for Vaughn Ward (R), a former Senate aide and CIA employee who is vying to unseat freshman Rep. Walt Minnick (D-Idaho).
According to an invitation Ward’s campaign distributed Monday, sponsors of the Dec. 8 Washington event include Minority Leader John A. Boehner (Ohio), Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.) and National Republican Congressional Committee chairman Pete Sessions (Texas). Rep. Mike Simpson (R), who represents Idaho’s 2nd district, also is listed on the invitation. Full story

Nov. 24, 2009 - 11:25 a.m.

Congressional Black Caucus PAC Endorses Hilliard

During a swing through Washington, D.C., last week to promote his Congressional bid, Alabama state Rep. Earl Hilliard Jr. (D) picked up the endorsement of the Congressional Black Caucus political action committee and held a fundraiser with Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.). Full story

Nov. 24, 2009 - 11:24 a.m.

PhRMA-Funded Ads Tout Health Care Reform

A well-heeled health care coalition backed by the pharmaceutical industry will continue an advertising blitz over the weekend, targeting Senators with television ads in a dozen states. The buy included ads in the states of pivotal Democratic fence-sitters Sens. Ben Nelson (Neb.), Mary Landrieu (La.) and Blanche Lincoln (Ark.). Roll Call (paid content)

Nov. 23, 2009 - 12:17 p.m.

SEIU Spends $1 Million Praising Eight House Dems

The Service Employees International Union on Sunday reported spending nearly $1 million on an independent expenditure television campaign praising eight House Democrats for backing a health care bill earlier this month. Full story

Nov. 23, 2009 - 12:10 p.m.

Sports Personalities Among DCCC’s October Donors

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s October fundraising report, which it filed Friday evening, includes a number of sports figures.
Jason Taylor, a defensive end for the Miami Dolphins football team, gave $10,000 to the DCCC last month. (Football fans, especially those in the nation’s capital, will recall that Taylor played last year for the Washington Redskins, who probably wish they had him this season.) Full story

Nov. 23, 2009 - 12:12 p.m.

Talking Turkey Is Lobbyist’s Gravy Train

As most of Washington continues to focus solely on the health care debate, Damon Wells may have the best seasonal gig in town — chief lobbyist for the gobble lobby.
Wells, who has been at the National Turkey Federation for the past three years, serves as the Thanksgiving centerpiece’s eyes, ears and biggest advocate on Capitol Hill. Roll Call (paid content)

Nov. 23, 2009 - 12:18 p.m.

Primary Could Cost Kosmas Cash

Not long after she bucked her leaders and voted against the health care bill, freshman Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (Fla.) earned a Democratic primary challenger.
But to say former Winter Springs Mayor Paul Partyka is trying to carve liberal votes away from Kosmas might be a bit of a stretch. Full story

Nov. 23, 2009 - 12:09 p.m.

DCCC Tops NRCC in Oct. Fundraising, Has Three Times the Cash

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee outraised its GOP counterpart, the National Republican Congressional Committee in the month of October, according to disclosures by both parties. Full story

Nov. 23, 2009 - 12:16 p.m.

RNC, DNC Spent More Than $30 Million In October

The Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee combined to spend $30 million in October, the last full month before some key off-year elections on Nov. 3. Full story

Nov. 23, 2009 - 12:11 p.m.

Complete Mass. Senate Candidates Fundraising Numbers

Here is the full round-up on the Senate special election fundraising in Massachusetts:
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakely and Rep. Mike Capuano led the Democratic field in fundraising in the most recent reporting period for the Massachusetts Senate special election, followed by Alan Khazei and then Stephen Pagliuca, who is heavily augmenting his fundraising with personal contributions. Full story

Nov. 23, 2009 - 12:14 p.m.

Romney Leads In PAC Fundraising

After spending millions of his own money during his unsuccessful 2008 presidential campaign, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney apparently has learned a thing or two about fundraising.
Romney’s political action committee, Free and Strong America PAC Inc., is leading all other politician PACs in receipts this year with more than $3 million. Full story

Nov. 20, 2009 - 3:15 p.m.

Ethics Panel Admonishes Burris but Clears Him of Legal Wrongdoing

Sen. Roland W. Burris provided misleading information to investigators and had inappropriate phone calls with former Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich, but did not violate the law, the Senate’s ethics committee said Friday.
Ending a investigation of several months, the Select Committee on Ethics released a “public letter of qualified admonition” saying the Democrat’s actions and statements reflect unfavorably on the Senate. While the evidence did not show that Burris violated the law, the committee noted that senators “must meet a much higher standard of conduct.” Full story

Nov. 20, 2009 - 3:07 p.m.

DNC Outraised RNC In Big-Spending October

The Democratic National Committee outraised the Republican National Committee in October, a month in which both national party committees ramped up their fundraising and spent lavishly just ahead of the momentous Nov. 3 elections in Virginia and New Jersey.
The DNC will report later Friday to the Federal Election Commission that it raised $11.5 million and spent about $14 million in October, leaving it with about $12.3 million in the bank and $4.4 million in debts. Full story

Nov. 20, 2009 - 1:22 p.m.

Castle Collects Campaign Cash From GOP Senators

Newly filed campaign finance reports show that Republican senators moved quickly last month to boost the 2010 Senate campaign of Rep. Michael N. Castle (R-Del.), one of the party’s strongest candidates to capture a Democratic-held seat.
Eager to increase their ranks beyond 40 seats, several GOP senators donated to Castle through their leadership political action committees, according to reports the organizations filed before a deadline today. Full story

Nov. 20, 2009 - 12:42 p.m.

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