"For GOP mega-donors, a convention of their own" at Politico

For GOP mega-donors, a convention of their own

By KENNETH P. VOGEL and ANNA PALMER at Politico

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/80074.html?hp=l15

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Nowadays, there’s more incentive to butter up an emerging class of super donors, who have already given massive sums and will be asked to keep giving clear through Election Day.

“There are more ways for big donors to give more money to help the nominee,” said Matt Schlapp, a former political director for President George W. Bush, who advanced the craft of big donor fundraising with cool nicknames and perks for bundlers.

“In the 2004 general election, our big donors were still important to the extent that we needed them to give to the [Republican National Committee], but we were basically done fundraising by the time the convention rolled around because we accepted public financing,” Schlapp said. “Whereas now, it’s important for the campaigns, the super PACs, the 501(c)4s and the national parties to shepherd the big donors all the way through the elections, because they’re going to be getting asked for big checks right up until Election Day.”

The exclusive and sometimes secretive big donor events in Tampa are being organized by super PACs, Romney’s campaign and even some of the biggest donors, themselves, who, POLITICO has learned, have organized their own series of dinners and panels that are expected to draw big names as well.

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