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CHAO, MATALIN TO HOLD FUNDRAISERS FOR TALENT
The following piece by Chris Cillizza appeared in the "At the Races" section
of Roll Call on Monday, December 3, 2001.
Former Rep. Jim Talent (R) has a full fundraising agenda
set for this
month, including visits by Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and vice
presidential counselor Mary Matalin, in his bid to unseat freshman
Sen. Jean Carnahan (D) next year.
Chao will travel to Kansas City to raise money for Talent on Dec. 5, one
day after Matalin holds an event kicking off a "Women for Talent" group
in St. Louis. Later in the day Matalin will head to Columbia, Mo., to
collect donations for the Talent campaign.
"Talent and Secretary Chao are friends, and she indicated she would do
everything she could to help him in his Senate race," explained Talent
spokesman Rich Chrismer.
The events with Matalin and Chao are the latest in a string of
high-profile fundraisers aimed at helping Talent stockpile cash for his
race against Carnahan next year.
Former President George Bush held an event for Talent in Missouri on
Nov. 17 and signaled his family's support for the ex-lawmaker, who
represented the state's 2nd district from 1992 until last year. Sens.
Larry Craig (R-Idaho) and Don Nickles (R-Okla.) and have also raised
money for Talent this year. "We fully expect more visits by Cabinet
officials and Senators next year," added Chrismer.
Talent will also continue to hold his "Talk with Talent" town meetings
with members of the Missouri Congressional delegation.
On Dec. 7, Talent and freshman Rep. Sam Graves (R) will hold a meeting
in St. Joseph; the next day Talent will appear with Rep. Roy Blunt (R)
at a Springfield town meeting. Talent will join Sen. Kit Bond (R) at a
town-hall meeting in Kansas City on Dec. 20.
Talent is viewed by Senate Republicans as one of their best prospects to
capture a seat in their drive to take back the Senate majority they lost
in June when Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-Vt.) left the Republican Party.
The former House Member will need a substantial sum to take on Carnahan,
who, although she hasn't yet announced whether she will run in 2002,
raised more than $2 million in the first six months of this year for a
bid.
Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle (D-S.D.) has also signaled that
the re-election of Carnahan is one of his top priorities next year.