
Gov. Mike Huckabee can take in unlimited donations at a fundraiser set for Saturday in Little Rock because his political action committee is registered in Virginia, which has no cap on donations. Arkansas limits donations to a PAC to $5,000 per year.
Huckabee's Hope For America PAC has provided money to political candidates in
Iowa and Arkansas. Huckabee is considering a run for president in 2008 but he won't be able to use funds from the Hope For America PAC for his race if he announces for that office.
The AP story says New York Gov. George Pataki also has a PAC registered in Virginia.
Pataki's 21st Century Freedom PAC suffered some big losses in late November when, in the space of nine days, three of Pataki's top political aides in Iowa have said they are parting ways with the governor and will not be working for his campaign if he chooses to run for president.
Pataki's Iowa operations lost two conservative Republican activists who said they would no longer be serving as advisers to the Iowa operation of Mr. Pataki's political action committee, and also the executive director of Mr. Pataki's Iowa office, Craig Schoenfeld, said he was stepping down, leaving the PAC in Iowa with only two remaining advisers.
The New York Sun reports:
All three are well-known Republican activists in Iowa and added credibility to Mr. Pataki's political operation in a state that plays an influential role in the party nominating process. ... The loss of the aides has prompted speculation among Iowa Republicans about the future of Mr. Pataki's Iowa effort, which has been a crucial component of his early strategy in laying the groundwork of a campaign.
The New York Sun's story is lengthy and worth reading.
Virginia is one of the few states in the country that allow unlimited contributions to political action committees, and Virginia doesn't restrict spending from PACs registered in the state.
Huckabee's Hope for America PAC has already given $1,000 to the Iowa Christian Alliance - Iowa is the site of the first presidential nominating caucus in 2008. Huckabee's PAC also has made seven donations to Iowa candidates, a single donation to a New Hampshire group - New Hampshire hosts the first presidential nominating primary. The PAC also gave money to the Baltimore NAACP.






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