First Lady Rakes in Dough for Roberts
First Lady Laura Bush visited Kansas on Tuesday to headline a fundraiser for Sen. Pat Roberts, who is seeking his third term this November. Roberts, who already had over $2.7 million as of the end of last year, took in over $200,000 at the event, which included over 400 contributors. Those numbers suggest that the First Lady can continue to be a formidable fundraiser as the cycle continues.
With the entry of former Rep. Jim Slattery into the race last week, Roberts’ safe bid became a little less so. Slattery was a third-tier recruit who is unlikely to mount a viable bid in his own right. His candidacy could be compared to that of Jim Webb in 2006 insofar as he is there to force a Republican to run a tough campaign and pounce should the incumbent make a potentially politically deadly mistake. Roberts, though, is a political veteran who has been in Congress for nearly three decades. He is not given to mistakes and misstatements and should coast to reelection.
The fundraiser came at just the right time for Roberts. Democrats are looking to use their financial advantage to expand the playing field and some donors are looking to Kansas as a potential opportunity to do so. The big dollar fundraiser by the First Lady was a tremendous show of strength and sends a clear message that Roberts will not make the mistake of taking the challenge lightly. Such an approach may be sufficient to deter some would-be Slattery contributors, which could make it difficult for Slattery to raise the seed money that is always necessary to bring in more. Although it comes early in his campaign, the FEC deadline at the end of the month could be a critical barometer of just how formidable an opponent Slattery will be. If he fails to post strong numbers, his campaign could be over before it starts.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:26 am
Roberts doesn’t need the money. Laura Bush should be raising money for Shaffer in Colorado or Sununu in New Hampshire.