WASHINGTON -- Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is hosting a New York City fundraiser for Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., on Monday.
Landrieu, trailing in recent polls to Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy for the Dec. 6 runoff, continues to face an avalanche of negative ads from conservative advocacy groups, such as Karl Rove's American Crossroads. But the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, apparently confident of Cassidy's victory, has canceled planned TV ads in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette, according to Politico.
Clinton, who campaigned at a New Orleans rally for Landrieu before just before the Nov. 4 primary, is hosting the Landrieu fundraiser at the home of long-time Clinton supporters Sarah and Victory Kovner. Tickets range from $1,000 to $12,600, with proceeds going to Landrieu's Senate campaign, the Louisiana Democratic Party and Landrieu's political action committee. Clinton, the former First Lady and New York senator, is the current frontrunner for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.
Meanwhile, outside groups reported new allocations Tuesday to fund efforts aimed at defeating Landrieu.
Ending Spending Inc. reported in a filing Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission reported that it spent $187,000 for "direct contact" with Louisiana voters in opposition to Landrieu. The group was created by Joe Ricketts, founder of TD Ameritrade. Tea Party Patriots reported a $7,000 allocation for e-marketing efforts against Landrieu and $2,031 for automated calls and script writing on behalf of Cassidy.
Vote 2 Reduce Debt, another conservative group, is spending $1,600 on internet ads and phone banks in support of Cassidy, according to an FEC filing Tuesday.
