Few House GOP donate to McCain

Few House Republicans have contributed to Sen. John McCain since he clinched the Republican nomination at the end of February.

McCain, Arizona’s senior senator, has had a far warmer reception in the upper chamber. At least 22 Senate colleagues have contributed to McCain’s campaign, including Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.), an Independent who attends Democratic caucus meetings.

{mosads}Only 21 House Republicans have given to McCain from their personal campaign accounts since he became the presumptive GOP nominee four and a half months ago, according to an analysis of House fundraising reports made public Wednesday.

In addition, eleven House Republicans who did not give from their personal campaign accounts this year contributed from their leadership political action committees (PACs), according to fundraising reports covering the election cycle through the end of May.

So while nearly half the Senate GOP conference has given to McCain, less than 20 percent of House Republicans have pitched in.

Several of the highest-ranking Republicans in the House have yet to give to McCain. Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam (Fla.) have not given anything, according to the most recent fundraising reports.

“Congressman Blunt is focused on retaking the House so John McCain has the Republican majority he needs to lead our nation. To that end, he has been putting his fundraising dollars to use supporting incumbents and strong challengers,” said Blunt spokesman Nick Simpson.

Putnam is heading a Sportsmen for McCain group and is organizing an event for the Arizona senator, according to a source.

The lack of financial gifts raises questions about McCain’s relationship with members of the lower chamber. McCain has clashed throughout his career with House Republicans on issues ranging from immigration to campaign finance reform to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. A survey by The Hill in June found more than a dozen House Republicans who refused to endorse McCain, even though he will be the party’s standard-bearer this fall.

House Republicans say that McCain has done little to solicit their financial support, even though Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), the expected Democratic nominee, has raised more than twice as much money this election cycle. Obama reported $10 million more in cash on hand at the end of May.

Aides to McCain’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

{mospagebreak}Rep. Frank Wolf (Va.), the senior Republican on the House Appropriations State and Foreign Operations subcommittee, gave $10,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee last month. But he has not yet given anything to McCain from his own campaign account or from a leadership PAC, according to the most recent reports.

Dan Scandling, Wolf’s spokesman, said his boss supports McCain fully.

Scandling said McCain’s campaign simply hasn’t asked for a contribution from Wolf.

{mosads}“I don’t think anybody’s asked,” said Scandling. “Has there been an all-out push? I’m sure my boss would contribute if asked. Other candidates he’s contributed to have asked.”

Financial reports did not show any contributions from Rep. James Walsh (R-N.Y.), another senior member of the House Appropriations Committee.

Walsh, who has given thousands to other Republican candidates, said in an interview that he mailed McCain a $1,000 contribution last week. House lawmakers will not report their July expenses until later this year.

Walsh said he had hoped to give the money to McCain personally but that the candidate has not yet held a fundraising event near his district in upstate New York.

Walsh said McCain would likely raise more money from House Republicans if he made an effort.

“I don’t think he’s been aggressive about it,” said Walsh. “There are gold in them thar hills.”

McCain has raised eyebrows among some Republicans for not doing more to raise money for House and Senate candidates. McCain skipped the President’s Dinner, a major annual event headlined by President Bush to benefit Republican congressional candidates. McCain has also been slow to write fundraising letters on behalf of the Senate and House Republican fundraising committees.

President Bush received contributions from more than 40 House Republicans who have not given to McCain after he clinched the nomination in 2004. Bush enjoyed a significant financial advantage, Republican fundraisers say, because he ran as an incumbent president. And McCain has four more months to match Bush’s record.

At least seven House Republicans who did not give to Bush in 2004 have already contributed to McCain’s campaign.

The biggest contributions came from lawmakers who gave from their leadership PACs. Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio) and GOP Reps. Buck McKeon (Calif.), David Dreier (Calif.), Mary Bono Mack (Calif.), Pete Sessions (Texas) and Fred Upton (Mich.) gave $5,000 from their PACs, according to CQ MoneyLine, a website that tracks political fundraising.

Some lawmakers reported small contributions. Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.), for example, gave McCain $96 worth of in-kind secretarial services.