Dem Lobbyist Attacks on Ayotte Could Backfire
September 11, 2009 by Patrick
Filed under News & Politics
The New Hampshire Democratic Party has been rough on Republican senate candidate and former Attorney General Kelly Ayotte for hosting a pair of fundraisers in Washington this month.
This week, for example, state Democratic Party spokeswoman Victoria Bonney told the New Hampshire Union Leader’s John DiStaso that Ayotte’s so-called “lavish fund-raiser” proves “that her campaign is being run from inside the Beltway.”
But these attacks could backfire on the Democrats and their senate candidate Paul Hodes.
NowHampshire.com has obtained six invitations to high-priced lobbyist and PAC fundraisers in Washington designed to leverage Democratic control of Congress to fuel Paul Hodes’ senate campaign (appended below).
Hodes’ fundraisers include a $2,500 per person affair on June 16th at the 116 Club, “which lobbyists claim has the best crab cakes in town,” according to Washingtonian Magazine.
Another event on June 10th took place at Art & Soul Restaurant, where “sixteen-foot glass walls, and shiny red chairs that accompany square oak tables and a sleek bar, give off a modern feel of stylish urban sophistication.” That event was hosted by “The Financial Services Community.”
On June 3rd, Hodes was the guest at a lobbyist fundraiser headlined by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. That one costs PACs and lobbyists $5,000 per.
Hodes even had a lobbyist fundraiser in March at Charlie Palmer Steak, the very same “lavish” restaurant the Democrats attacked Ayotte for using to raise money.
A NowHampshire.com/Populus Research poll on September 8th showed Hodes would struggle to compete against a generic Republican candidate in the 2010 race for the senate seat being vacated by Republican Judd Gregg.
We contacted the Democratic State Committee, but they did not respond to our request for comment.
