McCollum's PAC donates $1k to defeat Wilson

Rep. Betty McCollum's (D-Minn.) personal political action committee will donate $1,000 to Rob Miller, the Democratic candidate contesting embattled Rep. Joe Wilson's (R-S.C.) seat in 2010, the congresswoman announced today.

"Rep. Wilson's words were an insult to the President of the United States and an embarrassment to the U.S. House of Representatives," McCollum said of Wilson's "You lie!" disruption on Wednesday night. "He crossed a line of protocol and decency that may be acceptable for angry ‘tea baggers' at a rally, but is completely unacceptable for a Member of Congress in the House Chambers. I want the voters of South Carolina's 2nd Congressional District to know they have a civil, respectful, and honorable choice to represent them in Congress -- Rob Miller."

Surprisingly, McCollum's announcement Thursday -- however generous -- is now but a drop in the bucket for Miller, who has raised more than $500,000 in contributions from about 14,000 individual donors since Wednesday night, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reported on Thursday.

A number of groups and lawmakers are also now pulling for South Carolina Democrat, who has so far struggled with an underfunded campaign. His personal Web site on Thursday even re-directed viewers to a donation form managed by ActBlue, the party's online fundraising tool.

Of course, Miller himself has capitalized on the brouhaha. In a statement provided to CNN Wednesday night, the Democrat labeled Wilson's remark as an example of "everything that is wrong in Washington."

"Instead of engaging in childish name-calling and disrespecting our Commander-in-Chief, Joe Wilson should be working towards a bipartisan solution that makes quality, affordable health care available to each and every South Carolinian," Miller said.