Fundraising

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) looked to lend House Republicans a hand in their fundraising efforts Tuesday.

Pawlenty e-mailed supporters of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) ahead of the committee's quarterly fundraising deadline to encourage donations to unseat Democrats in Congress.

“Winning a Republican House Majority this November will begin to rescue our country from the bailouts, handouts and takeovers of Barack Obama and his liberal extremists in Congress,” Pawlenty wrote in an e-mail for the NRCC.

A potential candidate for president in 2012, Pawlenty could garner more GOP support through his efforts. He can then cash in on that support as his presidential campaign develops over the next two years.

He established political action committees earlier this month in Iowa and New Hampshire, the first two states in the presidential nomination process.

Pawlenty is also scheduled to visit South Carolina this week, the state that traditionally hosts the third primary in the 2012 calendar.

He isn't the only Minnesotan to help the NRCC out in late June, either; Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) also solicited donations in a NRCC e-mail last week.

The Democrats’ campaign finance legislation passed the House but may not pass the Senate in time for the November election.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) has pledged to contribute $1 million to congressional Republicans' campaign efforts this fall.

Boehner pledged the hefty sum as part of the National Republican Congressional Committee's (NRCC) "Battleground" effort, a push beginning this week to cull $20 million from sitting GOP lawmakers to help elect more Republicans this fall.

The money will come from Boehner's campaign account, and will be on top of the $755,000 he's already contributed to the committee, and in addition to the $30,000 from his PAC.

Boehner's contribution could be seen as setting an example for rank-and-file members to pony up for this fall's midterm efforts.

The top House Republican has said Republicans could compete in as many as 100 congressional districts this November, and the NRCC's support could be key in converting many of those opportunities.

EMILY's List continues its evolution in the post-Ellen Malcolm era.

On Friday, the pro-abortion rights group announced the hiring of Democratic strategist Amy Dacey as its new executive director. The post had gone unfilled since Ellen Moran left to join the White House in 2008.

Dacey spent several years working for Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in various political and campaign roles. During the 2002 election cycle, she was the deputy political director at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). She joins EMILY's List from the Service Employees International Union, where she was director of government relations.

Malcolm recently stepped down as president of the group and handed the reins to Stephanie Schriock.

President Barack Obama will raise campaign cash next week for Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Democrats' Senate campaign committee.

Obama will help raise funds for Boxer for the second time in a month and a half with a fundraiser in San Francisco. The president will also hold a separate fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC).

The president last stopped in Los Angeles in late April, when a set of fundraiser brought in $3.5 million in funds for Boxer and the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

Boxer is facing one of her toughest reelection challenges this year, with a number of Republican candidates -- most notably former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, state Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, and former Rep. Tom Campbell -- vying to unseat her.

California's major cities are some of the largest media markets in the country, making campaigns there some of the most expensive statewide races to organize.

Cross-posted from the Briefing Room.

The Democratic National Committee, however, raised more money in April than the Republican National Committee.

President Barack Obama is hosting a fundraiser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Thursday night that is expected to raise $1.3 million.

Obama is in New York City at the St. Regis Hotel for the event, according to the White House pool report.

He'll be joined by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), who is chairing the event.

About 185 people are expected to attend and that includes Elizabeth Capp, an oncology nurse practitioner from DeLeon Springs, Fla., who won an online contest. 

Costs are $50,000 for couples attending the VIP reception, which includes photos with Obama, and $15,000 per individual.

The hostility surrounding healthcare reform has galvanized both sides of the abortion debate to vigorously campaign in the midterm elections.

Sen. Jim DeMint's (R-S.C.) Senate Conservatives Fund has raised more than $200,000 for Indiana Senate candidate Marlin Stutzman as the state senator looks to pull an upset of former Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) in the GOP primary.

The haul equals the $200,000 that Coats loaned his campaign and should allow Stutzman to continue to build up his name ID in advance of Tuesday's vote. Stutzman has emerged over former Rep. John Hostettler (R-Ind.) as Coats's biggest obstacle to the GOP nomination.

The endorsement of DeMint has paid big financial dividens for Stutzman. Through April 14, Stutzman had raised just $260,000 and had just $45,000 on hand.

Before loaning his campaign $200,000 last week, Coats had raised $445,000, albeit in a shorter time period than Stutzman.

"This race is still wide open, and Marlin is gaining momentum with a clear conservative message," DeMint said. "The response from the grass roots in Indiana and across the nation has been remarkable. Marlin is raising money $25 at a time from thousands of people who want to send a new generation of conservative leaders to Washington."

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), who made pains to distance himself from his Saturday Night Live personae during his 2008 Senate run, will host a fundraiser with several fellow SNL alums in Los Angeles this weekend.

Slated to appear, according to the Star Tribune, are Dan Aykroyd, Dana Carvey and Kevin Nealon. 

A cocktail and dinner reception for big donors will be held before another, less expensive reception. The events will benefit both Franken's 2014 reelection campaign and his leadership PAC.

Franken held a fundraiser in Minneapolis recently featuring a current SNL cast member, Seth Meyers.