Election Night HQ

On Monday, the big news for observers of the jockeying for campaign cash between Senator McCain and his old friend, former Senator Fred Thompson, will be the dueling DC fundraisers, staged by both campaigns today and this evening.

The events are of strategic importance for both sides.  McCain’s well-publicized difficulties in raising $$$, means that he cannot possibly afford to lose any significant donors to Fred.  In addition, the McCain campaign has been launching an offensive on many fronts, to demonstrate that McCain absolutely will not withdraw from the race for the nomination. 

Just looking at this “viability offensive” from the finance sector:

These assurances are important, not only in order to encourage McCain donors to continue to donate.  Equally critical is that these McCain donors be persuaded - at the very least - not to donate to Fred (even if they no longer wish to continue donating to McCain).

Here are excerpts from the article appearing in The Hill:

…McCain is gathering the chiefs of staff of his congressional supporters to raise money from up-and-coming lobbyists on the same night that Thompson has scheduled his first big-dollar Washington fundraiser. McCain is also holding a lunchtime fundraiser earlier in the day in northern Virginia.

These dueling fund-raising events, creating a first head-to-head match-up, come at a critical time for both men.  McCain is battling to keep his coalition of support intact in the wake of a major campaign shakeup this month that res
ulted in the departure of campaign manager Terry Nelson, chief political strategist John Weaver and several senior members of his fundraising staff.

Thompson, meanwhile, is looking to pick off McCain’s support, but his delay in formally launching his campaign is raising eyebrows. Thompson’s surrogates have approached McCain’s backers on the Hill and K Street to persuade them to switch allegiances.

McCain’s event, at the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, is expected to raise less money. He is charging individuals only $100 per ticket. Guests at the Thompson event must pay $1,000 per person and $5,000 per political action committee…

Some McCain supporters say they will look closely at Thompson’s fundraising progress as they mull which candidate to support. Brad Wine, a partner in Dickstein Shapiro’s government law and strategy group and a member of YP4McCain (Young Professionals for McCain), said the departure of many senior McCain aides has shaken his support.

“A lot of the people I dealt with are no longer with the campaign,” he said. “A lot of the folks that I know and think very highly of are not there anymore, and to suggest it doesn’t have an impact [on my support] would be less than genuine.”

Thirty-three young professionals supporting McCain are hosting Monday’s fundraiser. Wine is one of the few members of the program not on the host committee. He attributed this to “professional obligations.”…

McC
ain’s fundraising, which could influence the allegiance of inside-the-Beltway supporters, must overcome the departure of several senior members of his finance staff.

Mary Kate Johnson resigned from her position as finance director.  Jim McCray left his post as deputy finance director.  Elizabeth Verrill, McCain’s former Southeastern finance director, has also reduced her role significantly.  Jake Suski, McCain’s Western finance director, has left the campaign entirely. Jay Zeidman, who handled the program of young professionals supporting McCain, has also left…

Juleanna Glover, a member of the host committee for McCain’s Monday event, said she expected solid showings for both McCain and Thompson.  She added, however, that McCain supporters are more committed to their candidate.

“Everyone at the McCain fundraiser will be able to say with a completely straight face that they think John McCain will make an excellent president of the United States,” she said. “Your typical attendee at a Thompson event is going to be a curiosity seeker. McCain is a known quantity. The typical attendee [at his event] is going to be a security-minded, solid conservative.”

Kirk Blalock, a partner at Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock, one of the main organizers for McCain’s event on Monday, said the simultaneous scheduling of the two fundraising events was accidental. He also said that while Washington insiders have drawn dire conclusions about McCain’s viability from the campaign shakeup, supporters in important primary states remain enthusiastic. “In Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire people are enthusiastic and excited about his campaign,” he said. “I think the buzz in Washington is off pace with the buzz outside of Washington.” 

You can read the original article by clicking here.  Do you have a question about campaigns, politics, etc.?  Or do you have information to pass along?  Or both?  The Tower welcomes all replies and/or commentary, positive or otherwise. 

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