Author: Jake Gibson

WASHINGTON – Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty (R), who is widely seen as among those making the most aggressive preparations for a 2012 presidential run, will soon make his third visit to New Hampshire since he announced he would not be running for re-election last summer.

The potential 2012 GOP presidential candidate will headline the Strafford County Republican Committee summer picnic on July 10.

Pawlenty visited the all important “first in the nation” presidential primary state in December and March as well.

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – Senator Blanche Lincoln and Lt. Governor Bill Halter will head to a June 8 run off election, extending their bitter Democratic primary race for an additional three weeks.

With 89 percent of precincts reporting Lincoln had 44.6 percent of the vote while Halter had 42.4 percent.

Lincoln, a two term incumbent senator, has been widely referred to as the most vulnerable Democrat in the entire 2010 midterm election.

“They wrote us off…”a clearly excited Lincoln told the crowd at her victory party, “they’ve got another thing coming!”

Halter framed the runoff as a victory for his campaign, “In eleven weeks we’ve conquered eleven years of incumbency.”

“So if you believe if Washington works for you, then Senator Lincoln should be your choice,” said Halter.

Lincoln said she understands Arkansans are frustrated with Washington, but assured her supporters that she’s part of the solution, not the problem.

Lincoln challenged Halter to change the tone of the race, which has been among the most bitter in the country.  “I want to call on Halter to end his negative ads, and I will too,” said Lincoln and added, “I Call on these outside groups to take down their negative ads and go home!”

Halter will thank voters in Little Rock Wednesday morning, while Senator Lincoln will rush back to Washington for votes.

Little Rock, Ark. (FOX) – Election officials tell Fox News that Senator Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., has already voted by absentee ballot.

“She can pretend to vote but she can’t put a ballot in that box.” Said 88th precinct Chief Judge Arlette Miller. “Our paperwork says she’s already voted.”

There is definitely some confusion about the issue at the Lincoln campaign where staffers assure Fox News that Senator Lincoln will be headed to the precinct to vote soon.

“She hasn’t voted yet.” Said Lincoln Campaign staffer Charlie Gocio.

WASHINGTON — Thursday marks one year since Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter announced he was becoming a Democrat, leaving the Republican Party and a potentially tough 2010 Pennsylvania GOP primary election in his rearview mirror. One year after his decision, Specter finds himself under fire from both sides; a Democratic primary challenge from his left by Rep. Joe Sestak, D –Pa., as well as incessant attacks from the GOP.

In remarks to be delivered Thursday evening in Washington, Sestak will hit on his opponent’s change of heart last year, “A year ago today, Senator Specter, after 44 years as a Republican, left his party. He made his reasons very clear. He said he joined our party because his chances of winning re-election as a Republican were “bleak.”

The Pennsylvania congressman is also accusing Specter of spreading mistruths in their recent TV ad, which claims Sestak was “relieved of duty in the navy for creating a poor command climate”. “I retired because my daughter had a brain tumor…” Sestak told Fox News today, “this is what’s wrong with politics.”

 Meanwhile, conservative Republican Pat Toomey waits to see which Democrat he’ll be running against in the fall, but that hasn’t stopped his campaign from chiming in, especially on this occasion. “Over the past year, Arlen Specter has proven time and again that the only principle that matters to him is the preservation of his own political career,” Toomey Communications Director Nachama Soloveichik said. “He has changed his position on nearly every issue, from health care, to card check, to national security.”

Specter’s campaign fired right back at the Toomey campaign’s criticism, “Pat Toomey is the original Mr. No of Pennsylvania politics and far outside the mainstream here, ” said Specter Campaign Manager Christopher Nicholas.

On the Senate floor Thursday, Specter attempted to stay above the fray, “The stakes for America require that we all do our level best and permit the public to judge us accordingly… there is a pressing need for Republicans to join with us in reforming Wall Street, to prevent the kind of financial crisis which cost this country eight million jobs.”

However, Specter staffers however found themselves doing a bit of cleanup Thursday, with multiple news outlets filing on the following Specter quote: ”Well, I probably shouldn’t say this,”[Specter] said over lunch last month. ”But I have thought from time to time that I might have helped the country more if I’d stayed a Republican.”

Mr. Nicholas responded by emailing out what he characterized as the entire quote, for context:

“Well, I probably shouldn’t say this, but I have thought from time to time that I might have helped the country more if I’d stayed Republican and tried to bring people across the aisle on healthcare. I might have brought a few across the aisle.”

Will Charlie Crist run for the U.S. Senate as an Independent ?

Rumors to that effect have been swirling around the Florida governor for weeks and although his campaign aides deny the idea vehemently, as of late Crist himself hasn’t been saying, or doing anything to kill the story. In fact he’s been doing quite the opposite.

The incessant speculation over Crist dumping the Republican party and making a run as an Independent is a direct consequence of Marco Rubio’s recent strong polling numbers in the Florida GOP Senatorial race.

Governor Crist repeatedly assured Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday on March 28th he was not considering a run as an Independent. “So you are ruling out that you will file as an independent by the April 30th deadline?” Wallace asked. Crist answered, “That’s right. I’m running as a Republican.”

But this morning when a Miami Television reporter asked Crist if he would run as an Independent, he replied “We’ll look at that later on. Not today.”

A recent decision Crist made in his capacity as Florida Governor have many Florida politicos saying he has already given up on the Republican nomination. Thursday Crist vetoed an education bill backed by Republicans which would have linked teacher compensation and tenure to student test scores. The bill also would have made it easier to fire teachers in Florida.

“That veto alienated a number of prominent Republicans throughout the state of Florida,” said Florida political strategist Justin Sayfie.

In fact, Crist’s own campaign chairman and political mentor, Connie Mack, left the campaign in protest. In his letter of resignation Mack called the Governor’s veto “unsupportable and wrong.”

In the end it may be the simple realities of the latest Florida polls that force Crist to take up the Independent mantle if he wants to be on the general election ballot.

The Real Clear Politics polling average shows Rubio leading Crist by more than 20%, while the latest poll, a Quinnipiac survey, shows Rubio leading by 23%. However, the same Quinnipiac poll shows if Crist ran as an Independent he’s find himself in a very competitive three way race when matched up with former speaker of the Florida House Marco Rubio and Democratic Representative Kendrick Meek.

The decision to run as an Independent could also have negative consequences for Crist . Officials at the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which had previously endorsed Crist, tell Fox News if Crist bolts the party they will immediately back Rubio and “spend whatever is needed to help him win in November.”

Time is running out on this drama as Crist only has until April 30th to make his decision.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has chosen to endorse Marco Rubio over Governor Charlie Crist in Florida’s GOP Senate primary.

Senior Romney advisers tell Fox News that Romney will make the official announcement Saturday, before personally campaigning with Rubio in Tampa on Monday.

Romney is the latest GOP 2008 presidential candidate to endorse Rubio. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani have already endorsed the former speaker of the Florida House.

Romney spoke with each candidate, both of whom had sought the endorsement, but in the end Romney aides say the former Governor saw Rubio as the candidate with the stronger conservative record. Romney’s PAC, Free and Strong America, will contribute $5,000 to the Rubio campaign.

Some insiders see this as a classic case of political payback.

During the 2008 presidential campaign, Florida Governor Charlie Crist was one of the most sought after endorsements in the country.

Rudy Giuliani had staked his entire campaign on the Sunshine State and thought he had the backing of Crist all lined up.

Romney also courted Crist heavily for the endorsement, but in the end Crist gave the nod to the eventual 2008 GOP nominee, Arizona Senator John McCain.

Now, surprising precisely no one, both Giuliani and Romney have chosen Rubio over Crist.

Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., raised $1.16 million in the first quarter of 2010 and has $9 million in cash on hand.

However, that was less than half of the $2.3 million his Republican challenger Pat Toomey raked in during the same time period.

Specter, the incumbent Democrat still maintains a serious cash-on-hand advantage with $9.06 million in his warchest, while Toomey reported just over $4 million.

However, Specter is beginning to spend money in his Democratic primary fight with Rep. Joe Sestak.

Sestak has not announced his first quarter fundraising numbers, however he has long complained about the difficulties of fundraising while being abandoned by the Democratic establishment.

Last spring when Specter bolted the Republican party, President Obama assured him White House support.

Sestak has since been openly bitter about national Democrats supporting Specter, a man who Sestak points out was a lifelong Republican until last year.

Specter’s quarterly fundraising totals have been in decline ever since he switched parties.

The Pennsylvania senator raised $1.92 million in the third quarter of 2009 and $1.15 million in the fourth quarter, before posting his latest, $1.16 million haul.

Washington – A little known conservative from Colorado running for U.S. Senate is hoping a big name endorsement will give his campaign a bump in name identification and fundraising.

Colorado prosecutor Ken Buck is running to unseat Democratic Senator Michael Bennett. Buck’s main opponent is former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton (R), who outraised Buck significantly in the last quarter of 2009.

Conservative Senator Jim Demint (R) of South Carolina announced his endorsement of Buck today during a conference call with reporters and bloggers.

“I saw the same thing with Marco Rubio, a person willing to get into a David and Goliath fight because he believes in the principals.” Said Senator Demint.

Demint has become a kingmaker in the conservative movement and his Senate Conservatives Fund has given money to a number of races this year. The biggest influence has been in Florida where DeMint was an early backer of the former Speaker of the Florida House, Marco Rubio.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist was the prohibitive favorite for the GOP Senatorial nomination in Florida last summer, earning the early endorsement of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Rubio has since caught and passed Crist in the polls, fueled in part by DeMint’s early endorsement and Tea Party support.

Buck can use any help he can get when it comes to fundraising, his campaign hasn’t released first quarter 2010 fundraising totals yet but only raised about $40,000 in the final quarter of 2009. On the other hand Buck’s Republican opponent Jane Norton reported $816,000 in the first quarter.

Lt. Gov. Bill Halter Out Raises Lincoln’s First Quarter 2010 Total In One Month.

 

Washington – Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln (D) raised $1.3 million in the first three months of 2010 and has $4.3 million cash on hand according to a Tuesday media release from her campaign.

“I am grateful for the support of thousands of Arkansans, because I know I can’t do this without them,” Senator Blanche Lincoln said.

However, her opponent in the Democratic primary, Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter (D) raised $2 million in the month of March alone.

Halter Campaign Spokesman Laura Chapin confirms to Fox News that Halter was able to raise that figure between his announcement on March 1 and the end of the quarter on March 31.

Lincoln is considered one of the most vulnerable Senators in the 2010 midterm elections, which led Halter to jump into the race.

The Democratic primary is only five weeks away and the winner will face a tough race regardless, with the latest polling out of Arkansas suggesting voters are overwhelmingly against the health care reform act passed by congress.

Meanwhile, Arkansas Representative John Boozman (R) is facing off with state Senator Gilbert Baker (R) in the Republican primary. Most establishment Republicans seem to be lining up behind Boozman. Neither Boozman nor Baker has released first quarter 2010 fundraising numbers yet.

New Orleans — Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (R) won the Southern Republican Leadership Conference straw poll with 24% of the vote. It was an impressive display of organizational ability for the 2008 presidential candidate, especially considering he didn’t even attend the event.

Romney is widely considered to be preparing for a 2012 run and was still highly visible at the conference; a group called ‘Evangelicals for Mitt’ put up placards in the hallway outside the ballroom, gave out piggy banks that read, “Elect a president who won’t break the bank – Romney 2012” and took out a full page ad in the conference brochure.

Texas congressman and 2008 presidential campaign phenom Ron Paul (R) came in second place, losing out by one vote.

Paul also dropped some money for his votes. The tickets to the conference cost $150, but the Ron Paul website was selling them for $30. So, in theory, Paul paid $120 a piece for a good portion of his votes.

Former Alaska Governor, 2008 Vice Presidential nominee and megastar Sarah Palin (R) came in third, garnering 18% of the vote after delivering a speech on Friday heavy on policy. Palin has been playing it coy, saying she is not yet either in or out of the 2012 presidential race. She is also a Fox News contributor.

Newt Gingrich (R) also had 18% of the vote but lost out to Palin by nine votes. Gingrich also gave a speech on Friday and the crowd was very receptive.

The former speaker of the house has been mulling a run at the White House since 1994, when he led the first Republican takeover of the House of Representatives in nearly 50 years.

Wilson Research Strategies conducted the polling. Here are the numbers in detail:

Methodology: Only paid, credentialed attendees to the 2010 Southern Republican Leadership Conference were permitted to cast a ballot in the straw poll.

Initial Choice (If the primary election for president were held today, for whom would you vote?)

Mitt Romney 24% (439)

Ron Paul 24% (438)

Newt Gingrich 18% (321)

Sarah Palin 18% (330)

Mike Huckabee 4% (80)

Tim Pawlenty 3% (54)

Mike Pence 3% (58)

Rick Santorum 2% (41)

Gary Johnson 1% (3)

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal (R) insists he will not run for president in 2012.

Speaking at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference (SRLC) on Friday, Jindal said, “I am not running for president of the United States. I’ve got the job I want.”

The SRLC is a cattle call for potential presidential candidates such as Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich and Texas Governor Rick Perry (R).  Jindal is a first term governor who was on John McCain’s VP shortlist in 2008.

Jindal also took a swipe at the RNC, saying, “I do have a word of warning to RNC staffers, you may want to stay away from Bourbon Street, just a word of advice.”

Bourbon street is a world famous party street in the French Quarter and is also home to a myriad of strip clubs. Many in the room took the remark as a direct shot at the RNC scandal in which nearly party coffers paid a $2,000 bill at a West Hollywood topless night club..

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and 2008 presidential candidate isn’t attending the Southern Republican Leadership Conference, which kicks off tonight in New Orleans.

But that isn’t stopping his backers from pushing for a win in the SRLC Straw Poll.

All you have to do is open the 80 page color glossy program, right there on page 2 is a full page ad taken out by the 537 group Evangelicals for Mitt.

It reads in part:

“In 2012, we don’t have to choose between moral values and economic expertise.

Mitt Romney has it all.

So vote for Mitt and use the SRLC straw poll to let him know.

even though he’s a yankee, Southerners love him.

Evangelicals should unite — early — behind the right candidate.

He’s pro-life, pro traditional marriage, and the guy knows how to balance a checkbook.

Join us.”

No other candidates have an ad advocating for them in the program.

Most of the rest of the ads in the program are of the inside political baseball variety, such as for services to help with get out the vote efforts, fundraising and email marketing.

Romney is not the only candidate who has groups shilling for straw poll votes however.

The Campaign for Liberty, a group that backs Ron Paul bought 800 tickets to the SRLC.

There is also sign urging people to vote for Sarah Palin in the hallway outside the ballroom.

Around 3,500 conservative activists from all over the South are in New Orleans this weekend  for the Southern Republican Leadership Conference (SRLC), which many political insiders consider the unofficial kickoff to the 2012 presidential cycle.

The SRLC which takes place every four years is a politico’s paradise; big name speakers, strategy sessions, backroom networking and luxury fundraisers, all set in a city world famous for its food, drink and Cajun entertainment.

But even as Bourbon Street beckons, the main attraction for attendees and an armada of reporters, will be the GOP’s potential 2012 contenders.

SRLC official Kirstin Hopkins calls it, “An excellent opportunity to speak to a large group of influential conservative Republicans.”

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin finds herself in the familiar position of divisive headliner. The GOP megastar, former 2008 Vice Presidential candidate and Fox News Channel contributor will receive no speaking fee for her appearance, which is a rare occurrence.

There is also a closely watched SRLC Straw poll, and Palin is among the favorites.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has been mulling a presidential bid ever since 1994 when he crafted “The Contract With America” and led Republicans to their first House majority in nearly 50 years.

Gingrich is still one of the GOP’s most prolific purveyors of ideas, but many think he’s not really serious about making a presidential run.

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour built a dominant Republican National Committee as chairman during the Gingrich revolution. He’s now the chairman of the National Governors Association and is thought to be a proven master of conservative politics and policy.

Everything’s bigger in Texas and Governor Rick Perry is running for an unprecedented third term in office. However, his incessant attacks on Washington and the Obama Administration have had Lonestar state newspapers and insiders speculating since last year that his eye is really on 1600 Pennsylvania.

Then there’s Indiana Congressman Mike Pence, the number three Republican in the House of Representatives.  While fighting Democrats in congress Pence has also been making the rounds in the crucial early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire. He’s also begun signing up volunteers and potential staffers.

Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum has been quietly laying the groundwork for potential run for several months. This appearance amounts to confirmation that he wants to be seen as a contender.

Texas congressman and 2008 phenomenon Ron Paul is a staple at such gatherings and is sure to garner huge ovations. Paul is also a serious threat to take the straw poll, just ask the stunned crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference last February.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal takes on the role of hometown host. Jindal was on the McCain’s VP shortlist in 2008 but struggled through a less than stellar response to President Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress in February of last year.

However, the two big names who have done the most to place themselves in the 2012 GOP conversation will be noticeably absent.

Former Massachusetts Governor and 2008 presidential candidate Mitt Romney is on a tour promoting his recent book, “No Apology: The Case for American Greatness.”

Meanwhile, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty canceled his appearance in order to take part in a welcome home ceremony for troops returning to Minnesota from Iraq. Pawlenty aides tell us the governor will instead address the event in a taped video message.

Some might argue that the man with the most at stake when he takes the stage this weekend is embattled RNC Chairman Michael Steele.

Though GOP candidates will likely enjoy what many call a “target rich environment” this midterm election season, the conference also comes at a delicate time for the RNC, which has been dogged by revelations party coffers paid for an outing at a sex-themed Hollywood nightclub.

That bombshell triggered the resignations of several top advisers at the RNC and has chairman Michael Steele on the hot seat over questions about his financial stewardship of the committee.

Steele will address the conference on Saturday, and over the next few days his schedule is packed with meetings.

Steele aides tell Fox News many of those meetings will be a chance for the chairman to meet face to face with the very party insiders who have been calling for his ouster.

California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman (R) wrote her campaign another check for $20 million Monday.

The billionaire former CEO of EBay has now put $59 million of her own money into the campaign, with election day still seven months away.

Whitman has already spent tens of millions of dollars in advertising and a new USC-Los Angeles Times poll suggests her investment is paying off.

Whitman led Democrat Jerry Brown 44 percent to 41 percent among the 1,515 registered voters, just outside the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.

Two-thirds of those surveyed said they had heard or seen an ad about the race.

The telephone poll, conducted March 23-30, shows Whitman leading state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner by 40 points in the GOP primary.

“Whether it’s facing down the powerful public employee unions who are propping up Jerry Brown or our well-financed primary opponent, Meg’s campaign will have the resources necessary to fight back.” said Whitman Campaign Manager Jillian Hasner.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg holds the record for most personal wealth put into a campaign at $108 million during his 2009 mayoral campaign.

Whitman Campaign aides confirm that she is willing to spend up to $150 million of her own money on her campaign.

Pat Toomey Has Big 1st Quarter. Senator Arlen Specter and Congressman Joe Sestak “Still Counting”

Conservative Republican Pat Toomey raised $2.3 million in the 1st quarter of 2010, marking his U.S. Senate campaign’s most successful fundraising quarter to date. That leaves the former congressman with over $4 million cash in hand.

“I have been the number one fundraiser among all senate challenger candidates in the country.” Toomey told Fox News. “We have been able to preserve our resources, I think that Arlen Specter and Joe Sestak are about to unload a whole lot of money in what will probably be a very nasty democratic primary that’s about to unfold.”

Toomey is running for the U.S. senate seat currently occupied by Senator Arlen Specter (D) and does not have any serious competition in the Republican primary.

Specter’s campaign has not released 2010 1st quarter fundraising numbers yet, with aides telling Fox news they are still counting up the receipts.

“We are very pleased with where our fundraising is. We have a Democratic primary to deal with first, then we will turn our attention to Mr. Toomey.” Said Specter Campaign Manager Christopher Nicholas.

Specter enjoys the support of the White House, which will be on display again today when Specter attends opening day at Nationals Park in Washington with President Obama. Specter defected to the Democratic Party last year citing, in part, a difficult battle in the Pennsylvania 2010 GOP primary race.

Specter’s democratic challenger Congressman Joe Sestak is also yet to release his latest fundraising numbers. “We ended last year with more than $5 million cash in hand, more than any other senate challenger. We’re in a very strong position to do what we need to do.” Said Sestak Campaign Spokesman Jonathon Dworkin.

The Pennsylvania Democratic Senatorial Primary is only six weeks away, so many political experts and players in Pennsylvania expect Sestak to take his message to the television airwaves very soon.

The latest polls show Toomey leading the field, and Specter with a commanding lead over Sestak.

A Franklin and Marshall survey conducted from March 15 – 21 shows Toomey leading Specter 33% to 29% and Specter over Sestak 32% to 12%. The Franklin and Marshall College poll included 1,119 adult Pennsylvania residents and has a margin of error of +/- 2.9%

If Arlen Specter wins the Democratic primary, it will not be the first time he has faced Pat Toomey. The two squared off in 2004 for the Pennsylvania Senatorial GOP primary, with Specter edging Toomey by less than 2%.

In the latest of a series of moves which political insiders see as Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty (R) positioning himself for a run at the 2012 GOP nomination, the governor announced the first series of 2010 candidates endorsed by his Freedom First PAC during a Facebook town hall Wednesday evening.

Pawlenty says all these newly endorsed candidates share his common-sense, conservative agenda. They are also running for seats that represent Republican pickup opportunities.

“Washington is headed in the wrong direction. We need to help good people running for office who understand that the federal government is overreaching and are willing to stand up and say, ‘Enough!,’” Pawlenty said.

The first seven endorsed candidates are:

Pat Toomey, running for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania.

Tim Burns, running for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 12th District.

Robert Dold, running for Congress in Illinois’ 10th District.

Sean Duffy, running for Congress in Wisconsin’s 7th District.

Charles Djou, running for Congress in Hawaii’s 1st District.

Pat Meehan, running for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 7th District.

Gov. John Hoeven, running for U.S. Senate in North Dakota.

Spokesman Says Spending is ‘Efficient’ and Not at Sex Clubs

Democrats love to paint their Republican adversaries as the fat-cat high-rollers, pinstriped corporate titans with a penchant for the good life. But recent campaign documents show Democrats also harbor a taste for the finer things.

Expenditure reports filed with the Federal Election Commission show the Democratic National Committee last fall spent more than $21,543 at a Boston Red Sox game and another $17,125 at a Dallas Cowboys game. DNC officials confirm the events as fundraisers, held in a Fenway Park restaurant and a Cowboys Stadium luxury box, respectively.

Recent reports of lavish spending at the Republican National Committee, including a now infamous visit to a Los Angeles strip club bankrolled by the RNC, have sparked intense scrutiny of both parties’ spending practices.

The RNC tried to turn the tables today by pointing reporters to a long list of high dollar DNC events, as well as hotel and limousine bills.

The DNC spent $13,316 on a party for outgoing chairman Howard Dean at Lucky Strike, a Washington bowling alley, in January 2009. Another $16,275 was doled out for a DNC staff holiday party at the Washington night club Josephine four months ago. 

“What you will notice is that there are no expenses on here related to sex clubs,” said DNC Spokesman Hari Sevugan. “The DNC, unlike the RNC, does not conduct business while watching women engaged in lesbian bondage scenes…Unlike RNC expenses for redecorating the chairman’s office or table service at a bondage club, these expenses were not for personal use but for the actual functioning of the party, and activities that added to the coffers, rather than emptying them.”

RNC Spokesman Doug Heye shot back: “This is a conversation the DNC needs to have with itself. Just yesterday on MSNBC, [DNC Chairman and former Virginia Governor] Tim Kaine said, ‘If we see folks doing things of this kind, expenditures that are over the top and super-luxurious, they ain’t staying here. We are in a tough time.’ Yet we see that is clearly not true.”

RNC funds were used to pay for a hefty bill at Voyeur, a Los Angeles stripclub where topless dancers participate in lesbian bondage shows and simulate sex acts.

RNC officials say Erik Brown, the president of Orange County-based Dynamic Marketing Inc., was reimbursed for $1,946.25 spent at the nightclub in February.

It is still unclear exactly how Brown, who RNC officials say is a “donor,” submitted the bill to the RNC and who else was with him at the club.

RNC spokesman Doug Heye said the charges are being “investigated” and maintains RNC Chairman Michael Steele was not at the club and knew nothing about the outing.

RNC officials also say Mr. Brown will be returning the money to the committee. 

Brown did not return phone calls or e-mails today. He claims to have spent time with Steele in the past. In October Brown tweeted, “Enjoying the football game with RNC Chairman Michael Steele. (Eagles vs Redskins at FedEx Field).”

The RNC will appeal today’s campaign finance ruling to the Supreme Court.

A three judge panel of the U.S. District Court in Washington ruled Friday that it cannot overturn a Supreme Court ruling which upholds a ban on soft money fundraising by national party committees.

“Today’s decision leaves special-interest groups and labor unions with more power to influence our elections than political parties.” Said Bush Administration Solicitor General Ted Olson, who will represent the RNC before the Supreme Court.

Olson added, “We will demonstrate to the Supreme Court that the First Amendment does not tolerate that result.”

The RNC argues that it should be able to raise soft money for activities that have nothing to do with federal elections, such as state elections and congressional redistricting.

The ban on soft money fundraising is one of the few parts of the McCain-Feingold law to survive multiple court challenges.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (R) and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty (R) have both now confirmed that they will not attend the Southern Republican Leadership Conference (SRLC), which is taking place April 8-11 in New Orleans.

Their absence is notable in the sense that they are the two who have been most noticeably planning for a run in 2012 and this is a chance to speak to a major group of conservative activists.

Pawlenty had been scheduled to attend and was even advertised on the website as a featured speaker. The Minnesota Governor has pulled out however to attend the homecoming of about 1,200 troops returning from Iraq to Minnesota.

Romney officials say that the 2008 Presidential candidate will not be attending because it conflicts with his book tour. “He will be on the road promoting his book in New Hampshire, Boston, Philadelphia and Minnesota during the conference” said Romney aide Eric Fehrnstrom.

However, plenty of other Republicans will take the opportunity to speak at the conference. Among the speakers: Former Alaska Governor and Fox News contributor Sarah Palin (R), Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal (R), Newt Gingrich (R), House GOP Conference Chair Mike Pence (R-In), Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour (R) and former Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa).

SRLC official Kirstin Hopkins says she understands the scheduling conflicts and there are no hard feelings, however she maintains this year’s meeting will be bigger than ever and is “certainly a great opportunity to speak to conservatives.”