Red-Meat Republicans

In the 2014 Republican primary, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s campaign and PAC spent nearly $170,000 at DC power steakhouses, chiefly Bobby Van’s and BLT Steak. His victorious opponent Dave Brat’s entire campaign cost $122,000.

“”It’s rare that you would see a fundraiser at a Ruby Tuesday or a Chipotle,’ said Lisa Spies, a veteran GOP fundraiser …. ‘You’ve got to spend money to raise money.’

In the 2014 cycle, all federal candidates have spent just over $9,000 on Chipotle, and $1,229 at Ruby Tuesday, according to numbers compiled by CQ Moneyline. In the same span, they have spent more than $400,000 at Bobby Van’s.”

—  “Why Eric Cantor chose Bobby Van’s,” Eric Tau, Politico

It works. Cantor’s campaign raked in $5.5 million and his PAC took in $3.5 million more while Brat raised $206,663.

But the median annual household income in Virginia’s 7th District is $64,751, the value of the average family home is $188,400, and it’s a pretty long drive to Bobby Van’s.

Related:

“Elites Beware: Eric Cantor’s Defeat May Signal a Populist Revolution,” Ron Fournier, National Journal

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Eric Cantor Ousted

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R, VA-7), a 13-year congressional veteran, was defeated by Tea Party loon David Brat in the June 10th Republican Primary. Mr. Cantor is the first sitting House majority leader to lose a primary election since the position was created in 1899.

David Brat is a professor at Randolph-Macon College with degrees in economics and divinity, Director of the BB&T Moral Foundations of Capitalism Program and, as a complete political unknown, was the perfect vehicle for the anti-incumbent vote. He also benefited from the strong xenophobic sentiment of Virginia’s Republican party. Henry Blodget summarizes Mr. Brat’s platform: “No government, no immigration, no tax, no schools, fusion of church/state….”

Dave Brat will face fellow Randolph-Macon professor Jack Trammell in November’s general election.

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Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

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Congress: How We Spent Our Summer Vacation

The National Journal‘s Michael Catalini spent his summer vacation cataloging what legislative leaders did on theirs.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV): “Put Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame!”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): Watched his aide Jesse Benton holding his nose.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL): Compiled an “Enemies List.”

Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX): Got put on the Enemies List of FreedomWorks.

House Speaker John Boehner (R, OH-8): Played golf with Donald Trump.