WASHINGTON -- The conservative billionaire Koch brothers, who poured millions of dollars into the 2012 elections, have given their largest single political action committee donation for the 2014 mid-term races to Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, who is challenging Sen. Mary Landrieu, the three-term Democratic incumbent, in next year's Louisiana Senate race. According to Cassidy's latest campaign finance report, the...
WASHINGTON -- The conservative billionaire Koch brothers, who poured millions of dollars into the 2012 elections, have given their largest single political action committee donation for the 2014 mid-term races to Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, who is challenging Sen. Mary Landrieu, the three-term Democratic incumbent, in next year's Louisiana Senate race.
According to Cassidy's latest campaign finance report, the Koch Industries PAC made two separate $5,000 donations to Cassidy on March 20 and March 28, just days ahead of his April 2 announcement of Senate candidacy.
Neither, David Koch nor Charles Koch responded Thursday to a request for comment. But their early donation to Cassidy's campaign could be an indication that conservative donors will target the Cassidy-Landrieu race as an opportunity for a Republican pickup as the GOP seeks to reclaim majority status in that chamber.
In past cycles, the Koch brothers have poured significant campaign cash into so-called SuperPACs, which can spend and raise unlimited amounts of money. The businessmen, however, have had mixed results.
They helped Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker survive a recall vote, but their efforts to make Barack Obama a one-term president and elect a Republican Senate in 2012 failed. David Koch was criticized by some conservatives when he announced during last year's Republican National Convention that he supported gay marriage, a position at odds with GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney. They are now bidding to purchase a group of newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune, from the Tribune company.
According to the latest campaign-finance reports filed with the Federal Election commission, Landrieu raised $1.15 million during the first three months of 2013, giving her $3.47 million in her campaign treasury.
Her best known donor is sometimes New Orleans resident Brad Pitt, who gave contributions of $2,600 and $2,400, for a total of $5,000.
In her campaign finance report, Pitt is listed as William Pitt of Beverly Hills. The actor's official name is William Bradley Pitt.
Cassidy, a physician first elected to the House in 2008, raised $524,089 between January 1 and March 31, giving him $2.46 million in campaign cash available.
The money was raised for Cassidy's House re-election campaign, but now that he's announced for the Senate he can switch the money to that race. House and Senate races have the same limits on campaign donations from individuals and political action committees.
Landrieu has picked up support from two leading Louisiana Republican contributors. Donald "Boysie" Bollinger, CEO of Bollinger Shipyards, donated $5,200 during the first three months of the year. Joe Canizaro, a New Orleans real estate developer, didn't make a donation but announced his endorsement of Landrieu at the same time Bollinger did.
Bollinger, who had help from Landrieu securing Coast Guard contracts for fast response cutters, also gave to Cassidy, making separate contributions of $2,400, $4,000 and $2,400 during the first three months of 2013. All the donations came before Cassidy announced for the Senate and Bollinger revealed his support of Landrieu's re-election bid.
The last $2,400 donation to Cassidy was returned to Bollinger because it exceeded maximum donations for the 2014 cycle, according to the Cassidy campaign.
Bollinger isn't the only donor to contribute to both candidates.
Political action committees representing the American Sugarcane League gave $7,000 to Landrieu and $5,000 to Cassidy; Devon Energy PAC gave $5,000 to Landrieu, $2,500 to Cassidy; Pfizer PAC, $2,500 to Landrieu and $2,000 to Cassidy; and Merck & Co., $5,000 to Cassidy and $2,500 to Landrieu.
Overall, Landrieu got 70 percent of her donations during the first three months of 2013 from individuals and 30 percent from PACs. Cassidy had about a 50-50 split.
Cassidy did well with fellow doctors and PACs representing doctors and other health care providers.
Among those giving $5,000 each to Cassidy were PACs representing the American Academy of Ophthalmology; American Association of Clinical Urologists; American Association of Neurological Surgeons; American College of Physician Services; the American Gastroenterological Association;' the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians; American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.
Landrieu raised substantial money from energy companies and unions.
Among those giving her campaign $5,000 were PACs representing the AGL Resources; the Carpenters' Union; Conoco Philips, Devon Energy; the International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers. Her biggest donation, $10,000, came from the Glacier PAC, headed by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., Baucus recently announced that he won't run for re-election in 2014.