Posted on 06/17/2007 5:37:20 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
(AP) ST PAUL, MN -- One month before they reach the first fundraising milepost, political leaders who helped lure next year's Republican National Convention to Minnesota huddled Friday about where to find the money.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, conceded that fundraising efforts need a push. Pawlenty, U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman and the mayors of Bloomington, Minneapolis and St. Paul met privately for 90 minutes to figure out who to hit up and how.
"While there's a little bit of a slow start to the cash in the door part of it, we have got a good momentum behind the pledges and there's a preliminary indications of peoples' willingness to support this event," Pawlenty said. "If those pledges are fulfilled we're on track and then some."
In bidding for the convention, the Twin Cities host committee set a goal of raising $3.9 million by July 15, or 10 percent of the $39 million that must be attained from private sources to pay convention expenses. Some of the fundraising is in the form of in-kind contributions, which are goods and services for the event instead of money.
Other funds will be raised nationally toward an ultimate goal of having $60 million to put toward the Sept. 1-4 convention where Republicans will nominate their next presidential candidate.
Jeff Larson, a host committee organizer, said he was confident the July 15 goal would be met. He refused to say where the committee stands in its fundraising.
"We're not going to get into a numbers game of how much has been raised and from who," he said.
Larson acknowledged that money raising has "been a little bit slow." He said the host committee has spent much of its time lining up hotel and event space.
In Denver, where Democrats will hold their national convention, organizers said earlier this month that they fell $2 million short of their $7.5 million cash goal.
Host committee members in Colorado said they too were lining up pledges they hope to turn into cash later.
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, a Democrat, said Friday's meeting proved the leaders of different parties were intent on setting their political baggage aside.
He said he's working to convince donors -- regardless of their political affiliation -- that the convention will pay off in terms of regional exposure.
"We're not going to get many chances like this and everybody in this community has to step up to the plate in different ways," Rybak said.
Meanwhile, a request for $50 million in federal security funding remains in limbo in Congress. Sen. Coleman said he and Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar are searching for a bill to which the appropriation can be attached.
All they have to do is kill the illegal immigration development bill.....
Cracking down on illegal aliens would be a good start.
If they ever returned to principles, that would be a reason to talk to talk to me about a donation. They soldout, and I’m not buying!
LOL!!
These idiots just don’t get it!
Everything that used to go to the RNC is going to Duncan Hunter!
Mine is going to Senator Jim Inhofe who is out in front fighting this Amnesty Bill in the Senate.
Not another dime!
...as well as truly becoming the Party of Smaller Government and Fiscal Discipline for now and for always! Also, if Ronald Reagan were alive today and was mentally sound, what would be everything that he would truly want the Republican Party to do to truly get the Republicans back on track for always?
To paraphrase Shakespeare, “Send your messengers to look for my contributionin Heaven. And if they find it not there, go look for it yourself in the other place...”
It’s very simple. FIRST:
Work on building the fence 24/7, starting yesterday.
No more automatic citizenship for alien babies.
No amnesty under any disguise.
Make sure we know who is crossing our borders.
Nail the companies that hire illegals.
Etc, etc, etc.
Otherwise, I will keep responding to your fund-raising letters, “Get tough on immigration!” instead of sending you the money I used to send.
Maybe if they walled th border there might be money. Maybe they can get La Raza to buy them a convention.
Even P.B.S. can do better than that hawking tote bags!
Here’s a hint. Don’t waste money trying to solicit from me!
Just say NO to Illegal Alien Amnesty!! Keep calling!! It’s NOT OVER!!
U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121
U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121
White House comments: (202) 456-1111
Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep
Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Considering the people in charge, just cancel the convention because of lack of interest.
“fundraising efforts need a push”.....PUSH?...Hell! they need life support!
Republicans traditionally have been funded at the “grassroots” level by large numbers of working class Americans. D’craps on the other hand have always depended on “special interest” groups especially those who favor socialism in all it formats.However as the line between the Pub’s and D’craps blurs I think the Republican Party may be in for a drop off in funding !!!
They called last week, I told them no thanks and hung up.
Congress. Sen. Coleman said he and Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar are searching for a bill to which the appropriation can be attached.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
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