As part of his efforts to retire the debt his presidential campaign incurred during the ramp up to the Iowa straw poll, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty held a big-name fundraiser in Washington on Tuesday night.
U.S. Reps. John Kline and Erik Paulsen and U.S. Sens. John McCain, John Thune and Lindsey Graham were among the attendees, according to a tweet from former Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung.
Here’s color from Politico’s Playbook:
TIM PAWLENTY IN D.C. FOR “RETIRE THE DEBT” PARTY LAST NIGHT, with joshing and meatballs: $500 to $5,000 per individual or PAC. Co-hosts (eight senators and three House members) each gave $5,000 from leadership PACs. Amount raised wasn’t disclosed, but finance folks were clearly pleased. Joining T-Paw and Mrs. Pawlenty were Speaker Boehner; Sens. Thune, McCain, Burr, Blunt, Graham and Hoeven; Reps. Kline and Paulsen; plus Charlie Black, Sam Geduldig, Dan Meyer, Ron Kaufman, Jim Hyland and Mike Needham. Former Pawlenty staff and advisers included Brian Haley, Caitlin Dunn, Mark Kennedy, Sara Fagen, Phil Musser, Alex Conant, Patrick Ruffini Joey Smith, Rob Noel, Jon Seaton, Michael Toner and Elise Stefanik, who hosted the party at her Hill townhouse. Elise used her Italian mom’s recipes and made all the food, including bruscetta, mozzarella and tomatoes.
-SPOTTED: Speaker Boehner, making a beeline for the meatballs.
-Pawlenty thanked guests by quoting the Beatles/Joe Cocker, “I get by with a little help with my friends.” Jokingly added next line: “I get high with a little help from my friends.”
Devin Henry can be reached at dhenry@minnpost.com.
I’m shocked to read that a conservative candidate couldn’t run his campaign on a balanced budget. Absolutely shocked!