Posted on 09/04/2002 8:59:54 AM PDT by ltlflwr
In a move likely to raise eyebrows among House Republicans, a political action committee (PAC) controlled by the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee has contributed $3,000 to a former Democratic House candidate in Arkansas.
Fundraising reports revealed that Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia contributed $3,000 last Dec. 16 to Judy Smith, who lost to then-Rep. Jay Dickey (R) in 1998. She ran again in the 2000 primary against then-state Sen. Mike Ross (D), who went on to defeat Dickey in the general election.
Smith has not filed to run again in Arkansas 4th District, where Dickey has mounted a comeback bid for his former seat.
Davis has contributed $62,000 to Republican candidates through his personal leadership PAC, the Federal Victory Fund, since 2001. A Davis spokesman declined to comment on the contribution to Smith.
Financial contributions across party lines are rare, especially for members of the party leadership. Of the 130 leadership PACs tracked by the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP), only Davis had contributed to a member of the opposite party.
The CRP also reported that Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) contributed $5,000 to a Democratic candidate this year, but a spokesman for the CPR said the report was erroneous. The center also incorrectly reported that Wisconsin Rep. Tom Petri (R) contributed $1,000 to a Democrat.
CRP spokesman Doug Weber said contributions from one member to a candidate of the opposite party are quite rare. He added that although congressional leaders tend to frown on the activity, some members see no problem contributing to moderates from another party in uncontested races.
Others may also contribute to a primary candidate from another party in an attempt to bolster a candidates chances against a more formidable general election opponent.
If you look down the list of leadership PACs, he said, its very unusual.
Not all that is Republican is conservative (sadly) and not all that is Democrat is liberal (how this could be I do not understand), though that is the way to bet.
I know nothing about the players in this case, however.
You're right, that may have been Davis's strategy. However, do you think it was right for Davis to say:
"[He is] one of the highest-maintenance candidates Ive ever had." During his visit, Davis told Dickey "he had better get some money in the bank - and fast - if he expected the national party to chip in. [NY Times, 3/3/02]
I think this should have been a private conversation between Davis and Dickey. Why would he say this to the NYTimes, of all places?
Also, since when does being pro-abortion qualify as being socially conservative? From what I've read online, Judy Smith is still pro-abortion. Do you have information that indicates otherwise? Thanks.
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