Tuesday, June 01, 1999
Impeachment 'heroes' get aid
GOP raises funds for House targets for Chabot, others
BY PAUL BARTON
Enquirer Washington Bureau
Steve Chabot
|
WASHINGTON — Being a “Republican Hero” for his role in the impeachment of President Clinton may be worth $100,000 for U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot.
That's how much House Majority Whip Tom DeLay wants to hand the Cincinnati Republican in appreciation.
Mr. DeLay, R-Texas, is so concerned about Democrats targeting Mr. Chabot for defeat in 2000 that he wants his re-election campaign to get off to a strong start. To Mr. DeLay, No. 2 in the GOP leadership, Mr. Chabot is one of 10 GOP members who was a “Republican Hero” for prosecuting the impeachment.
The DeLay effort highlights some of the early help that Cincinnati-area members facing competitive races next year are receiving from Washington political celebrities.
Several of the 10 members, like Mr. Chabot, are from competitive districts and attracted national attention — and the ire of the White House — during the impeachment process.
Mr. DeLay has organized a June 16 Washington fund-raiser for them.
He is also calling on his 60 assistant House majority whips to give up to $3,000 each to help them, and has been calling on top-name Washington lobbyists to give to the group.
The idea, Mr. DeLay's office said, is for each of the 10 seriously threatened incumbents to have $200,000 to $300,000 in the bank by June 30, the first major Federal Election Commission reporting deadline for year 2000 fund-raising.
The first reporting deadline is often regarded as a show of strength, and that kind of early money in the bank could scare off or intimidate many potential challengers.
“There are a number of us being targeted. I guess it is not anyone's surprise that I am being targeted,” said Mr. Chabot, who felt the fury of labor unions and other special interests aligned with the Democrats in his 1996 and 1998 re-election races.
Mr. Chabot, a former Hamilton County commissioner and Cincinnati councilman, defeated Cincinnati Mayor Roxanne Qualls in 1998 and Democratic operative Mark Longabaugh in 1996.
Mr. Chabot has also received fund-raising help from Rep. Henry Hyde of Illinois, who came to Cincinnati April 12 for a fund-raiser with him at the Hyatt Regency downtown. It grossed about $100,000.
“It was the most successful event I ever had,” Mr. Chabot said.
Meanwhile, other Cincinnati-area members likely to be in heated races next year are getting their fund-raising machines in motion, also.
Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, already has $1.2 million in the bank for his re-election bid next year and plans to raise $8 million before it's over, his staff said.
Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole has already come to Columbus for a fund-raiser for him, and Cincinnati trial attorney Stan Chesley is planning to hold one for Mr. DeWine in June in Cincinnati.
Rep. Ken Lucas, D-Richwood, has already had one $500- to $1,000-a-head fund-raiser in Northern Kentucky and has four or five other events planned for June, including a $250- to $500-a-head fund-raiser Tuesday, his staff said.
Mr. Lucas is also busy in Washington, where he is receiving help from some of his friends among the Blue Dog Democrats, a group of about 30 moderate but fiscally conservative Democrats in the House.
Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Texas, one of the most prominent members of the Blue Dogs, is helping Mr. Lucas with an event in June that is designed to raise money from the farming community.
Mr. Lucas is a member of the House Agriculture Committee.
“We have a very detailed finance plan, and we have blown beyond any goal that we have set for ourselves. We are very happy with our progress to date. Folks are responding to Ken Lucas,” said Mark Guilfoyle, an attorney and political strategist for Mr. Lucas.
Mr. Guilfoyle would not disclose any figures.
A number of Republicans are already expressing an interest in running next year against Mr. Lucas, who took the seat formerly held by Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky.
Meanwhile, Rep. Ted Strickland, D-Lucasville, said he hopes to have $100,000 in the bank when the June 30 reports are filed.
Mr. Strickland said House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., is planning to come to the 6th Congressional District this fall to help him raise money, and Mr. Strickland is planning a fund-raising reception next month at the offices of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in Washington.
But he said he is not trying to scare off challengers.
“If I intimidate my competition, I want it to be on my ideas, not my money,” he said.
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