Alexander fundraising could boost GOP leadership quest

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) has quietly secured more money through his political action committee (PAC) for Republican candidates than any other senator this election cycle, a fact supporters are highlighting in his bid to become the third highest-ranking member in his party’s conference.

The centrist Tennessee Republican’s Tenn PAC has raised $230,000 for candidates this cycle, far exceeding the rest of the 48 members in his conference, according to National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) tracking numbers confirmed by GOP aides. In contrast, the leadership PACs for the two candidates competing with Alexander for the chairmanship of the Senate Republican Conference Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas and Richard Burr of North Carolina, have provided $145,000 and $77,500, respectively, for candidates this cycle.

{mosads}Leadership PACs in particular have long been used by members of Congress to gain clout from their colleagues and win backing for moving from rank-and-file positions to the leadership team, according to outside election experts.

“I think it will have a huge impact [on the conference chair race],” said Meredith McGehee, policy director of the watchdog group Campaign Legal Center. “Now it is standard operating practice that somebody vying for leadership spreads this money around.”

Separate from his leadership PAC, Alexander has raised an additional $200,000 for candidates, ranking him as No. 7 in his conference in individual fundraising. Burr and Hutchison have secured an additional $121,000 and $195,000 for candidates through individual contributions.

Hutchison has smashed her two competitors in fundraising for the NRSC this cycle, having garnered just over $706,000 compared with Alexander’s $121,000 and Burr’s $32,500. However, these funds go to the NRSC as a whole instead of to targeted members, and as a result may not forge the same personal relationships that can be made though donations to specific candidates.     

Each of the candidates’ PACs has provided $15,000 this cycle to the NRSC, which directs Senate Republicans’ reelection efforts.

Some GOP aides downplay how much of an impact the fundraising numbers will have on the election for head of the Senate Republican Conference, which spearheads the messaging of the caucus. They say when Republicans cast their secret ballots Thursday, senators may weigh any number of factors, including friendships they have struck with the candidates.

Still, Alexander’s backers – including several Republicans making telephone calls on his behalf – have been highlighting the fundraising numbers and other factors in a bid to shore up support in the conference. The three senators are vying for the position being vacated by Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), who is running unopposed for the second-ranking position of minority whip that is open now that Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) plans to leave Congress by month’s end.

Republican aides say Alexander’s fundraising prowess is impressive given that he is just a first-term senator. In the 2006 election, Tenn PAC donated to 28 current sitting senators, while the PACs for Hutchison and Burr each donated to four current senators, according to CQMoneyLine.

Tenn PAC contributed just over $545,000 for candidates in 2005-06, compared with Hutchison’s KPAC, which donated just under $200,000 that cycle, and Burr’s Next Century Fund, which provided $225,500. In 2003-04, Alexander’s PAC contributed $150,000 to candidates, compared to KPAC’s $190,192 the Next Century Fund’s $21,000, according to CQMoneyLine.

Burr and Hutchison were running for their Senate seats in 2004 and 2006, respectively, which can affect fundraising numbers. Alexander is up for re-election in 2008.

Aides credit Alexander’s fundraising ability to a well-organized staff and the national profile the senator garnered after unsuccessful bids for the GOP presidential nomination in 1996 and 2000.

“Lamar always has been an effective fundraiser on his own, has always had a great team headed by former National Republican Finance Chair Ted Welch, and since coming to the Senate has felt a responsibility to actively support his colleagues in every way possible,” said Tom Ingram, chief of staff for Alexander.    Spokesmen for Hutchison and Burr declined to comment on the implications of the fundraising numbers. Hutchison currently ranks No. 4 in leadership as chairwoman of the Republican Policy Committee, and her supporters are touting her efforts as one of the leading women GOP politicians in the country. But, according to aides, she may be hampered by the fact that she is considering a run for Texas governor in 2010, and may leave Congress before then.

Hutchison’s aides dismiss that characterization.

Burr would bring a fresh face to the leadership, and has strong support from a number of senators with whom he used to serve in the House, as well as some freshman fiscal conservatives like Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), who, according to one aide, has made calls on Burr’s behalf.

Alexander has respect from both parties, and is seen as a pragmatic dealmaker willing to seek bipartisan accord on some of the most contentious issues facing Congress, including the Iraq war.
Last year, Lott surprised the senator with an unexpected win for the minority whip position. This time around, no sides are making predictions on the outcome.

“I expect that we will have [votes] at 9:30 Thursday morning, after which we will announce the outcome,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Monday. He added that he is staying out of the race despite his support for Alexander in last year’s whip race. “No prediction, nor any involvement, I hasten to add,” McConnell said.