Despite facing own reelect, Thune lends big hand to others

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) is looking a lot like a presidential candidate on the fundraising circuit.

Thune will appear at six events for top GOP Senate candidates over the next three weeks. The beneficiaries are: former Colorado Lt. Gov. Jane Norton, North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven, Rep. Jerry Moran (Kan.), Sen. Jim DeMint (S.C.), former Rep. Pat Toomey (Pa.) and Sen. Robert Bennett (Utah).

Thune, of course, is facing his own reelection this year, so he also needs to be raising money for himself. But he can devote much of his time to other candidates, for now, since he has yet to draw a Democratic opponent.

The Norton fundraiser will be held Tuesday and is also being hosted by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) and Sen. Jon Kyl (Ariz.). The Hoeven and Bennett events features those three, Thune and NRSC Chairman John Cornyn (Texas).