Marco Rubio may not be running for president in 2014, but were he to choose to, his finance team will be prepared. Two weeks ago, according to today’s online edition of The Hill, Rubio met with a group of established fundraisers to discuss raising money for his leadership PAC.
A lobbyist who attended the meeting said that the purpose was to get people raising money on a more full-time basis, and that Rubio plans to be increasingly engaged in helping conservative candidates around the country get their message out.ย Unspoken but assumed by meeting attendees was that these activities could help lay the groundwork for a launch of a potential presidential campaign.
Among the colleagues Rubio has already raised funds for are Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell; New Jersey Governor Chris Christie; Gabriel Gomez who is running against Massachusetts Rep. Ed Markey; and New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, to counter attack ads funded by NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Rubio is focused on helping his party win the majority in 2014 — but of course, as The Hill writes — “these political favors could also help him if he runs for president and needs to expand his donor network and recruit staff in primary states around the country.”
During the first three months of 2013, Rubio raised $2.29 million through his Senate campaign committee, leadership PAC and a joint fundraising account.ย At the end of March he reported $1.49 million in his Senate account and $565,500 in his leadership PAC.
Big names in Rubio’s fundraising corner include K Street’s Dick Van Dongen, president of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors and former Rep. Bill Pazon with Akin Gump; Wayne Berman, senior advisor for Blackstone’ Michael Zarrelli with Amway; Matt Keelen; and Patrick Raffaniello.
