GOPers to Specter: We want our money back!
At least three Republican Senators are asking Arlen Specter to return the donations they gave him last quarter.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.), the Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, will ask Specter’s campaign to return the $5000 that Cornyn’s PAC donated, a spokesman confirms.
And Cornyn isn’t the only one. Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) are also asking for their money back now that Specter’s a Democrat.
Corker’s Rock City PAC gave Specter $5000. Yesterday, the PAC’s treasurer sent Specter’s campaign a letter requesting a refund.
“On behalf of Senator Corker’s Leadership PAC, I respectfully ask that the contribution made to Senator Specter’s general election account on March 26, 2009 be returned,” Kimberly Kaegi wrote. “The PAC solicit funds to support Republican candidates and because Senator Specter will no longer be running as a Republican in this election, we ask that the contribution be refunded as soon as possible.”
In a statement to the Nashville Post, Alexander indicated he would do the same.
“Sen. Specter said he would return contributions made to him in this cycle, upon request,” Alexander said. “That’s the right thing for him to do, and we will request a refund.”
In his statement announcing the switch, Specter said that “upon request, I will return campaign contributions contributed during this cycle.”
At least one Republican will let Specter keep the cash: Sen. Richard Shelby.
“Senator Shelby gave Senator Specter the contribution in good faith, and will not ask him to return the money,” said Jonathan Graffeo, a spokesman for Shelby. “That is Sen. Specter’s decision.”
Other Republican Senators who donated to Specter include Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Orrin Hatch, and Jeff Sessions.
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