FUNDRAISING

No Second Acts? Don't Tell Newt

by Peter H. Stone

Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008


Contrary to F. Scott Fitzgerald's famous maxim that "there are no second acts in American life," the GOP convention offers ample evidence that prominent politicos who have taken hits to their reputations are having some success creating new images, organizations, and political personas, all aimed at starting fresh acts in their lives.

From former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, the convention is swarming with politicos bent on resurrecting their fortunes. And--in a class of his own -- Sen. Joe Lieberman has basically started a new chapter in his political life with his prime-time address touting John McCain, a speech that may well lead to the severing of Lieberman's Democratic affiliations.

"Conventions are a good opportunity for people to be given a second look by a broad-based group of GOP activists, including lots of donors," says Stan Anderson, a GOP activist from Washington, D.C.

Gingrich, whose career as speaker included one prominent ethics reprimand from his colleagues, is a case in point. After flirting with running for the presidency this year, Gingrich may be interested in taking a shot in 2012 depending on this fall's election results. And he has a political action committee, American Solutions, which has used the week to help fill its coffers and showcase its leader's policy smarts.

On Monday afternoon, Gingrich hosted a luncheon for donors and potential supporters of his PAC, which pays for his travel, underwrites events, and recruits young activists and leaders.

Then, on Tuesday, Gingrich starred in a forum -- which garnered media attention -- on educational reform that was hosted by his PAC and featured such well-known names as Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Education Secretary Margaret Spellings. This afternoon, Gingrich will be signing copies of his most recent book, Real Change.

Similarly, Giuliani, whose drive to be the presidential nominee this year imploded after a few poor primary showings, has been busy this week with public events such as his big speech to the delegates on Wednesday night. He has also been fundraising for his PAC, whose name is almost the reverse of Gingrich's: Solutions America. To keep his options open and to help as many GOP candidates as possible this fall, Giuliani's PAC hosted two golf fundraisers on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. To play with Rudy at the exclusive Hazeltine National Golf Club, donors were asked to chip in $5,000 per individual or PAC.

And onetime party leader DeLay has been in town in part to raise more cash for his new political venture -- the Coalition for a Conservative Majority -- and to try to ingratiate himself again with GOP activists who were troubled by his ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Abramoff's 2006 conviction led to guilty pleas by two former DeLay aides and continuing scrutiny of DeLay by federal investigators.

DeLay's coalition, in tandem with another group, Citizens United, threw a fundraising bash on Monday night. One conservative activist says that DeLay has also been seeking money to finance a grassroots, get-out-the-vote drive this fall either through his coalition or a second new entity. "He's itching to have a group that he can shepherd in messaging and results," the activist says.

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