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In Georgia Race, the Shoo Is on the Other Foot
Take South Carolina, for example. In the past three months, Romney drew $236,000 into Commonwealth's arm in the state. The vast majority of the donors, 27, came from Utah. Not one donation was made by a South Carolina resident.
That's not to say Palmetto State politicians did not benefit. The PAC made contributions to more than 60 South Carolina candidates, including 47 to state House members.
Romney's largess has crossed state borders. Since Jan. 1, he has donated $471,000 to candidates and party committees around the country.
Romney is not alone. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), another likely 2008 candidate, has raised $3.5 million through his Straight Talk America PAC in 2006 and donated more than $1 million to Republicans running in the November elections.
Another GOP Money Magnet
Speaking of fantastic fundraising, the Who's Who of GOP campaign elite are writing checks to Jill Holtzman Vogel, a candidate for the Virginia state Senate.
In the past three months, Holtzman Vogel collected $331,000 from people such as Matthew Dowd, senior strategist for President Bush's 2004 reelection campaign; Jack Oliver, fundraising guru for the Bush effort; Ed Gillespie, chairman of the Republican National Committee during the 2004 cycle; Mitch Bainwol, chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America; and Trevor Potter, former chairman of the Federal Election Commission, among many others.
Why would such big feet be interested in a state Senate race? Because Holtzman Vogel and her husband, Alex, are power players in the Washington world of Republican politics. Jill is an attorney, and Alex is a partner in Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti, a lobbying firm, and a political adviser to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.).
The cash being collected will go toward Holtzman Vogel's primary battle in the 27th District, a seat held by Republican state Sen. H. Russell Potts Jr.
Since running as an independent in the 2005 Virginia governor's race, Potts has been the subject of retirement rumors. Whatever he does, Holtzman Vogel plans to run in the May 2007 primary. The district includes some of the Northern Virginia hunt country and stretches west to the Shenandoah Valley.
