Posted on 03/12/2021 9:06:12 PM PST by DeathBeforeDishonor1
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has reportedly told Republicans during a private meeting that the party’s fundraising efforts have so far been far more successful than those of former President Donald Trump, who this week called for supporters to donate to his new political action group rather than support “RINOs,” or Republicans in name only.
McConnell, R-Ky., shared figures Wednesday during a weekly party lunch while responding to Trump’s claims, three people briefed on the meeting told The New York Times, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
He reportedly showed data prepared on small cards, with the headline “Super PAC money raised,” that he distributed to the GOP senators at the meeting. On them, it showed the totals that were raised by the Senate Republican super PAC and for the Georgia Senate races that ended up costing the party its chamber majority. That total, he said on the cards, was “$612+ million.”
“In 3 cycles: nearly $1 billion,” the card also said. And below that, the card listed the statistics for America First, the group formed to support Trump in 2020, and said “Trump: $148+ million.”
A McConnell spokesman refused to comment to the Times, but Jason Miller, an adviser to Trump, rejected implications that Trump’s actions resulted in Republicans losing the Georgia runoff races that determined control of the Senate, and instead blamed McConnell for refusing to support a larger coronavirus stimulus bill.
“A better side-by-side comparison would be the $2,000 stimulus checks that the Democrat candidates promised in Georgia versus the $600 stimulus checks that the Republicans offered, which led to us losing both seats,” Miller said. “Just think, if we had done that one thing differently, Republicans would be in control of the Senate right now.”
A person familiar with the McConnell action said it appears that the senator’s goal was less about fighting with Trump and more about reassuring GOP senators that they will have plenty of support should he target them in their upcoming races.
McConnell’s comments reportedly came after Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who heads the GOP Senate campaign committee, gave a presentation on the group’s efforts. Scott is set to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago later this week, according to a person familiar with the plans.
Several other key Republicans have been visiting Trump at his Florida resort home and club, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., and Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.
Meanwhile, Trump has “reaffirmed” the party’s use of his name for fundraising pitches, after his lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter to the RNC, the National Republican Congressional Committee, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee about using his name and likeness to raise money.
According to a Trump adviser, the former president is sensitive to the use of his name for branding purposes after the three groups supported GOP lawmakers who voted to impeach him over the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.
They’re outpacing a one week old PAC? Wow! So impressive.
lot of good it will do the rinos come mid term elections!
One man vs 100 senate seats? He may not win them all but I believe it will be enough to change the direction of the GOPe.
Trump’s new PAC didn’t exist when the Georgia races occurred.
People are getting angry at the amount of GOP fundraising spam they get 24/7. Reason enough to vote against whomever they promote.
McConnell doesn’t get it...the Pac might be “outpacing” Trump’s but McConnell’s PAC isn’t getting the money it could have gotten had he not become Trumps enemy.
They haven’t figured it out yet.
They think they can raise enough money to offset a Trump recommendation.
I wrote back and I said, "We voted for Donald Trump and you know he won the election. Why did you guys not do anything to fight the fraud? There were enough votes to give the GOP majorities across the board. How dare you ask me for help when we got out and voted. We did our job."
“people briefed on the meeting told The New York Times”
LOL!
A third-hand report...
Third-hand because then the NYT can lie safely about it.
Wouldn’t surprise me if the Big Donors are ahead at this point though, Trump hasn’t got up to speed yet.
But this is all Fake News.
Mitch will compromise with Trump, and on Trump’s terms.
It’s really not a bad deal for Mitch. Trump will go along with less conservative candidates where necessary-just not in areas that have and will support conservatives. Like Alaska...?
The Senate was designed by our Founders to change slowly.
Don’t expect a lot there.
Trump’s voters effect on the House will be more interesting and revealing. And very effective.
Cool.... then you should be fine Mitch. Everyone knows money equals votes. Just ask president Jeb, just ask president Hillary, Governor Meg Whitman, Senator Beto O’Rourke. LOL
It sounds like McConnell’s saying his PAC has raised $612 million since Trump formed his PAC which can’t possibly be correct. Maybe that’s the total that they’ve raised since it was formed years ago. McConnell has a big advantage over Trump though. Corporations won’t give Trump’s PAC very much.
FFS I hope this isn't the reason. The far left wing promised to do things differently but after $1.9 trillion in spending the average working person who is unemployed due to covid ended up getting the same $300 a week that Trump was able to pay for using discretionary funds!
But, The Left could help The RINOS win primary elections through cheating. Ditto, any to all Democrats over any kind of Republican, during all future general elections.
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!
face it people... we are in for a whole lot of “fake news”!
Was that money raised using Trump’s likeness without his permission?
Part of this story is that more money in McConnell’s PAC pocket doesn’t equal more votes. They could out-score Trump by ten to one. But Trump’s message deletes 90-percent of the value of McConnell’s PAC.
Georgia's Gov Brian Kemp, LtGov Geoff Duncan or SOS Brad Raffensperger will be buried in 2021, regardless of how much money they raise and spend. President Trump will rally against them in the primary season, and desroy them. They have no idea how thoroughly they are despised.
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