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Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009

Congressmen working hard to raise money

Fundraisers are a common occurrence ahead of vote.

WASHINGTON -- The dollar chase never stops for California incumbents and challengers alike, who keep busy raising campaign funds for themselves and for others.

In the last week alone, three of the San Joaquin Valley's House members held Capitol Hill fundraisers. The events conducted a year before the next election raised thousands of dollars for the already flush treasuries maintained Reps. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia, Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, and Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield.

"It's by far the worst part of the job, and I hate it," Nunes said Friday, "but you have to constantly do it." Nunes allowed that he enjoys events in his own congressional district, like a reception scheduled for today in Visalia, while the D.C. events are strictly business. Wherever the money comes from, he often redistributes it among his colleagues.

"My goal is to get the Republicans back into the majority," Nunes said, adding that "we are always running a campaign operation, 365 days a year." Cardoza and McCarthy, too, steer some of the money raised toward other candidates. For every incumbent, raising lots of money is a way to fend off challengers, while giving some of it to others is a way to make friends and influence policy.

Nunes reported having $1,068,393 available in his campaign treasury as of Sept. 30. To this, he added roughly $15,000 raised from an hour-long lunch held Nov. 17 at the GOP-run Capital Hill Club. In addition, he hosted two smaller fundraising events over the past week.

The night before the Nunes event, Cardoza hosted a $1,000-a-person fundraiser at D.C.'s Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar.

The event, two blocks from the Capitol, raised money for Cardoza's Moderate Victory Fund.

The Moderate Victory Fund is a leadership PAC. It is separate from Cardoza's campaign committee, which had $453,347 available as of Sept. 30, and it is another way for the incumbent to assist colleagues with contributions. So far this year, the Moderate Victory Fund has spent more money on fundraising than it has contributed to other candidates.