Alexander gave $5,000 to Delay campaign before Texan indicted

Saturday, 10/29/05

Alexander gave $5,000 to Delay campaign before Texan indicted

By MIKE MADDEN
Tennessean Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — Sen. Lamar Alexander gave money to embattled former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's re-election campaign just before DeLay was indicted on conspiracy charges, federal records show.

Through his political action committee, Tenn PAC, Alexander gave $5,000 to DeLay, the powerful Texas Republican who was indicted last month on charges he conspired to flout laws in his home state barring corporate contributions to campaigns there.

A review of Federal Election Commission records by The Tennessean found that the Tennessee Republican was the only senator to give money to DeLay's re-election account, formally called the Tom DeLay Campaign Committee.

Alexander personally delivered the check to DeLay less than two weeks before a Texas grand jury returned charges against DeLay, forcing his resignation as majority leader and handing political ammunition to Democrats who are trying to build a broad corruption case against the GOP.
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http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051029/NEWS02/510290356/1009/NEWS

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Saturday, 10/29/05

Senators rank low in at-home popularity

Survey: Alexander 71st, Frist 81st in approval

By CARA WALSH
Staff Writer

Tennessee's two U.S. senators ranked low in a new survey that measures, state-by-state, approval ratings for all 100 members of the Senate. Bill Frist came in No. 81 and Lamar Alexander at No. 71.

The rankings are based on a statewide survey of 600 adults in Tennessee conducted for WBIR-TV in Knoxville by SurveyUSA. Similar surveys were conducted in each state, and the results were ranked from most-approved-of to least-approved-of senators.
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Forty-nine percent of poll respondents said they approved of Frist's performance, while about 45% said they didn't. The results tended to follow party affiliation — 70% of Republicans surveyed approved of the senator's performance, but only 38% of Democrats felt the same.

The numbers, released this week, reflect a "difficult time" for the Republican Party, according to Frist spokesman Matt Lehigh.
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http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051029/NEWS02/510290352/1009/NEWS