$115k allows you to do a little chest pounding, I guess -- from a recent eMail:
Club members can claim their first victory of the 2005-2006 election cycle! Yesterday, Club PAC-endorsed candidate, John Campbell, won the Republican nomination in a special election to fill the seat of former Congressman Chris Cox, who recently became chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
As soon as President Bush nominated Cox for the SEC position on June 3rd, we immediately started our extensive research process on this new race. We quickly sized up the field, interviewed and thoroughly researched the backgrounds of the leading candidates, and assessed the political environment. As part of that new strategy, the Club for Growth PAC then endorsed State Sen. Campbell a week before the governor set the date of the special election.
While this is a strong Republican district, there was a real danger that California's primary system, which allows Democrats to vote for Republicans, could have been exploited by a liberal Republican to capture the Republican nomination. That didn't happen thanks to the Club PAC's new philosophy of being the first mover, which played a major role in establishing Campbell as the consensus choice among Republicans.
Club for Growth members donated more than $115,000 to Sen. Campbell's campaign, a huge factor in his win. The Club for Growth PAC was also the first organization on the air with TV and radio ads, spending more than $56,000 telling voters that Campbell's leading Republican opponent, Marilyn Brewer, voted for a budget that even "pre-recalled" Governor Gray Davis thought needed cutting.
With the out-of-control spending in Washington, the last person we wanted to see join Congress was a RINO budget-buster. Marilyn Brewer had a real shot at winning, and was wealthy enough to self-fund the race and pull it off.
We are grateful that the voters of California's 48th congressional district have made a strong statement in favor of the limited government, lower taxes agenda for which Sen. Campbell is a leading advocate. And we are very grateful to all the Club members who supported the Campbell campaign and those who have given money this year to the Club for Growth PAC so we could run the hugely important TV and radio ads.
Campbell should have an easy win when he faces off against other party nominees in the December 6th general election, but we will keep an eye on this race just to be sure.
Also, please be sure to visit the Club's blog, which we update daily. It's a great source of information.
Best Regards,
Pat
Patrick J. Toomey
President, Club for Growth
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