A Washington fundraiser later this week for North Carolina state House Speaker Thom Tillis and his U.S. Senate campaign reportedly has received the stamp of approval from some big Republican names, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., are also slated to attend the event, the
Washington Examiner reported, citing an updated invitation sent out Monday and obtained by the newspaper.
The breakfast fundraiser will take place at the D.C. home of Geoffrey Gray, a lobbyist who has represented Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac among other interests in the banking, financial and other sectors, the newspaper reported.
Donors will pay $500 to $1,000 per head, and it will be up to $2,500 for political action committees.
McConnell's political action committee has donated to Tillis' campaign, the Examiner said, but the attendance of the U.S. Senate's top Republican is important for Tillis' candidacy.
Tea party supporter
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has endorsed another Republican, physician Greg Brannon, in the North Carolina Senate primary.
But Tillis, the favored candidate of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, holds a considerable fundraising advantage, the Examiner reported.
For Republicans, beating Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan would be a critical win toward their
goal of retaking control of the Senate in 2014.
With Hagan taking a hit in the polls in part because of the unpopular rollout of Obamacare, the Senate race has tightened up, with Hagan running about neck-and-neck with GOP contenders Tillis and
Mark Harris, a Baptist pastor,
Public Policy Polling reported last month.
On Monday night, Tillis is holding a fundraiser sponsored by "Young Guns for Tillis."
All invitees are registered to lobby in the state, and two are former state GOP executive directors: Chris McClure and Scott Laster, the
News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C., reported.
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