IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
“While her closest allies admit she will be ‘pleased’ with any help from Donald Trump, Congresswoman Comstock hides her support of Donald Trump. Her cowardly silence on Trump’s efforts to raise money that will directly benefit her campaign exposes any past or future attempts to distance herself from Trump for the hollow political gestures they are.” – Jermaine House, DCCC spokesman
Key Highlights:
- John Whitbeck, chairman of the Virginia Republican Party and former head of the party committee in her congressional district, defended the practice used by both parties. “Despite the fact that she hasn’t formally endorsed Trump, of course the Comstock campaign is going to be pleased with anything that is helpful to her cause,” he said.
- But through a joint fundraising arrangement, the state party will use dollars raised at Friday’s luncheon and other events to bolster their efforts to reelect Comstock and her House GOP colleagues through voter outreach, such as going door to door and using phone banks.
- Through a spokesman, Comstock declined to comment on the fundraiser.
A fine line: Dems say northern Va congresswoman reaps cash from Trump while trying to distance herself
Washington Post
By Jenna Portnoy
Democrats say U.S Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va) is benefitting from the fundraising prowess of Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump even as she tries to distance herself from her party’s controversial nominee.
Trump is headlining a high-dollar fundraiser lunch Friday at the McLean home of a donor to Comstock, the proceeds of which will be used by the state Republican party to help Comstock and other down-ballot candidates. . More than half of the two dozen Republicans listed on the invitation have given directly to Comstock’s campaigns.
She is seeking re-election to a second term in a moderate suburban Virginia district flush with independent women and minority voters, many of whom have said they are turned off by Trump.
Democratic challenger LuAnn Bennett has tried to paint Comstock and Trump as allies, demonstrating the challenge some Republican candidates across the country face with the self-described billionaire at the top of the ticket.
Comstock has not endorsed the nominee, did not attend the Republican National Convention in Cleveland and earlier this year gave away a $3,000 donation from Trump. She backed Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in the primary.
But through a joint fundraising arrangement, the state party will use dollars raised at Friday’s luncheon and other events to bolster their efforts to re-elect Comstock and her House GOP colleagues with voter outreach such as door-knocking and phone banks.
Through a spokesman, Comstock declined to comment on the fundraiser.
John Whitbeck, chairman of the Virginia Republican Party and former head of the party committee in her congressional district, defended the practice.
“Despite the fact that she hasn’t formally endorsed Trump, of course the Comstock campaign is going to be pleased with anything that is helpful to her cause,” he said. “Especially considering this is a race that is heavily targeted by Democrats.”
Whitbeck said Comstock has the “crossover appeal” of her mentor and predecessor, former longtime congressman Frank Wolf.
But Wolf complicated Comstock’s efforts last month when he endorsed Trump at a rally for his running mate, former Indiana governor Mike Pence, as first reported by the Loudoun Times-Mirror.
Comstock supporters are counting on voters in the district, which spans Loudoun, Fairfax and Prince William counties, to split their ticket as they have in the past. She garnered more votes in 2014 in Loudoun than Republican Ed Gillespie, who came close to unseating Sen. Mark Warner (D) and is considering a run for governor next year.
“Win or lose, Donald Trump is not going to impact Barbara Comstock within the margin of error in the largest jurisdiction in her district,” Whitbeck said of Trump. Virginia developer Bob Pence, who helped Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-Fla.) presidential campaign raise money, is a co-chair.
Comstock’s Democratic challenger, Bennett, said the fundraiser shows the congresswoman has selectively embraced Trump.
“Barbara Comstock is a political operative through-and-through,” campaign spokesman Robert Howard said in a statement.
“She’s happy to use Trump to fill her bank account, yet refuses to tell the voters where she stands with him. She’s in line with her party and their presidential nominee and it’s time she admits as much to her constituents.”
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