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Breaking news from the St. Petersburg Times:
Richard Blankenship, a top GOP fundraiser from the Jacksonville area and former ambassador to the Bahamas, is stepping off Mitt Romney’s Florida finance team, and the Buzz is he’s about to hop aboard the Rudy Giuliani express.
In a letter to the Romney campaign, he called Mitt and Ann Romney “wonderful people,” but said he had become “uncomfortable” supporting the campaign and that Republicans needed a candidate with broad appeal across America.
Blankenship has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Bushes, has personally given tens of thousands to the GOP efforts, and has frequently loaned his Cessna for campaign trips.
Adding a strong fundraiser in what is already a base of strength like Florida is a great addition for Team Rudy.
March 21st, 2007 at 5:21 pm
Well it’s not the best news, but these guys don’t leave over ideology and stuff. I am sure Blankenship did his research before singing on eith Romney. My guess is Rudy offered a better deal in some way.
Besides just yesterday Romney added H. Wayne Huizenga, by far the better catch.
March 21st, 2007 at 6:17 pm
A “better deal”? I don’t think fundraisers are paid staffers. They don’t consume the bucks, they BRING the bucks.
This is just the start of a long line of similar defections. No business minded person is going to raise large sums for a candidate who can’t budge single digits, polls poorly against Democrats, and who can never solve that problem due to the way his religious membership is perceived.
Many of the “big names” who signed on with Romney did so because they want an alternative to McCain and bought into the conventional wisdom that Rudy can’t win the GOP nomination. Now that the picture has changed, so will the fundraisers.
March 21st, 2007 at 6:22 pm
David B,
I know what your saying is what you think, but do you have any proof? Big fundraisers sign on for all sorts of reasons, such as one who was once a past ambassador that might want a simiilar job in the next administration.
Plus what you just said is totally negated by the fact of Romney’s big hire in Florida and Rudy starting to sink a little in the polls. I doubt any guy who knows how to pull in serious cash would be so easily swayed so early in the game by Rudy on top of the polls.
March 21st, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Rudy’s starting to sink in the polls? I must have missed that story… Shall we refer to the RCP average?
March 21st, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Kavon,
Refering to the one I just posted and the latest Rassumusen.
March 21st, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Also,
I will add that Rudy people have been so hell bent on polls, any slippage is a ready target.
March 21st, 2007 at 6:39 pm
This is not suprising given Rudy’ consistent poll numbers. I have also heard that
a substantial number of the big money contributors have swithced from McCain to
Rudy. It will be intersting to see what kind of numbers come up in Rudy’s column
when fundraising figures are announced in a couple of weeks.
March 21st, 2007 at 6:43 pm
LJ posted the Michigan poll on Monday evening. See here. Every other poll has McCain and Rudy trading leads in MI.
As for Rasmussen, this is from the horses mouth,
4% isn’t even out of the MoE.
I fail to see how either of the two factors you listed show that “Rudy starting to sink a little in the polls”.
Once again people. Click this link and look at the graph smack dab in the middle of the page and ask yourself if Rudy’s numbers are sinking.
March 21st, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Sorry about that Kavon, didn’t realize this was the same poll. I will take it down.
But my other point is the same, Rudy has showed some slippage, and I think we will see more over the next 6 months. And I really stand by statement that polls have been pushed so much by Rudy people, any slippage is fair game.
March 21st, 2007 at 7:03 pm
We’re not back to the “Rudy would be a great President because his poll numbers are great” are we? Anyone would think we’re obsessed with polls!
I’m looking forward to the 1st Quarter money results. At least its a different sort of poll, that comes around less often…
March 22nd, 2007 at 12:30 am
Jason,
Ignoring the whole poll sidetrack…
What’s more likely, big fundraiser signs on with a candidate because said candidate has offered “a better deal” or because he was the seemingly best, though not perfect, alternative to an otherwise unpalatable choice?
Of course none of us likely can offer “proof” one way or another, but I seriously doubt that sort of “influence-buying” is the primary motivation for supporting a candidate. Granted, I do say this without having any “proof.”
But, if you do take that view of the motivations behind most political contributers, I do know a perfect candidate for you to switch to. (Hint: he likes to craft legislation with people named “Feingold.”)
March 22nd, 2007 at 5:54 am
[...] good for the last week or so. A big FL donor jumps ship, perhaps to Rudy. (H/T: Kavon) My money is still on $35-$40m for Romney Q1. Tags: Florida, Giuliani, RomneyShare This This [...]
March 22nd, 2007 at 7:15 am
[...] good for the last week or so. A big FL donor jumps ship, perhaps to Rudy. (H/T: Kavon) My money is still on $35-$40m for Romney [...]