Ayotte Raising Funds in Washington for U.S. Senate Race
Ayotte
New Hampshire Union Leader
Daisy Hsiang-Ching Tseng
Boston University Washington News Service
Sept. 22, 2009
WASHINGTON – Kelly Ayotte was in Washington Tuesday raising money for her run for the Senate seat of retiring Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H. The National Republican Senatorial Committee hosted a $500-a-person reception Tuesday night at its headquarters near the Capitol with special guests Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Texas Sen. John Cornyn, chairman of the committee.
Brooks Kochvar, the campaign manager for Ayotte, said he did not know how many people were expected at the event, which was closed to the press. One of the guests seen leaving the party, though, was Sen. Gregg.
Gregg said Ayotte, who is the former New Hampshire attorney general, was a great candidate. “We certainly hope to raise more money to support her,” the senator said.
Ayotte, as she left the reception, said, “I’ve been talking to a lot of people through out New Hampshire and working hard for the campaign, and I think obviously New Hampshire voters will decide this election.”
In addition to the committee reception, there were two other fundraisers scheduled in Washington on the same day. One was a fund-raising lunch at Charlie Palmer Steak near Capitol Hill and the other was hosted by Washington-based lobbyist Rick Murphy, a former staffer in Sen. Gregg’s office.
Kochvar said he did not know how much money Ayotte has raised so far. Candidates for U.S. Senate must file quarterly reports with the Federal Election Commission disclosing all their receipts and disbursements. The report for the quarter ending Sept. 30 is due Oct. 15.
Democratic Rep. Paul Hodes, meanwhile, was fundraising for his own campaign for the Senate at an event at the offices of Cornerstone Government Affairs, a Capitol Hill lobbying firm.
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