Tag: Rand Paul

Money in Politics

As NRA readies big annual meeting here, equally big Ky. political donations emerge

Some 70,000 National Rifle Association members are holding their annual meeting in Louisville this week, a four-day gathering that will include speeches on Friday by White House hopeful Donald Trump, plus Gov. Matt Bevin, Sen. Rand Paul, and others.

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McConnell

The group gave $810,462 to federal candidates for the 2014 election, including a total $22,900 to six Kentucky Republicans, according to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics:

  • Sen. Mitch McConnell: $9,900
  • Rep. Hal Rogers: $5,000
  • Rep. Brett Guthrie: $2,500
  • Rep. Ed Whitfield: $2,500
  • Rep. Andy  Barr: $2,000
  • Rep. Thomas Massie: $1,000

Overall, the NRA’s Political Victory Fund has given $197,609 to Kentucky congressional candidates since 1998, according to this new Courier-Journal story.

Unexpectedly, the Responsive Politics center’s data, from the Federal Election Commission, doesn’t show any NRA money for Sen. Paul. And I don’t find any going to Bevin, according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics’ data for the governor; it tracks campaign money at the state level.

The NRA meeting and trade show will be held at the Kentucky Exposition Center; more key information in today’s CJ, which also reports on the group’s history and rise to one of the nation’s most powerful organizations.

Related: etiquette advice for party hostesses who don’t want gun-totin’ guests.

Money in Politics

Donald Trump’s paltry fundraising in Kentucky shows how far he’s got to go

Here’s how much Donald Trump has coasted on free publicity in Kentucky to advance his who’d-a-thunk-it presidential campaign: He ranks No. 10 among candidates who’ve collected contributions in the state, raising a grand total of only $27,654, according to the latest Federal Election Commission numbers. Compare that to Sen. Rand Paul, who raked in $367,924 in the state before dropping his bid three months ago, and likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton‘s $443,851.

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Yours for $25.

To be sure, Trump hasn’t done any formal fundraising so far, relying instead on casual contributions and merchandise sales through his campaign website. But now that he’s got a virtual lock on the GOP nomination, his days of relying solely on gratis media attention are over. He acknowledged as much yesterday, but ruled out self-funding his campaign, however many billions he may have in the bank, according to Slate.

Related: For the third consecutive month, Sen. Bernie Sanders raised more money in Kentucky than any other presidential candidate. And more about Louisville politics.