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Pennsylvania: Cornyn Helps to Build Toomey’s War Chest

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) donated $5,000 through his leadership political action committee to former Rep. Pat Toomey (R), who is running for Senate in the Keystone State.

When Sen. Arlen Specter announced in late April that he was switching parties to run in 2010 as a Democrat, Cornyn and other Senate Republicans expressed caution about having Toomey as the party’s nominee — and some went as far as to say he could not win a general election.

Cornyn has not endorsed Toomey yet, but he told the Washington Times this week that he has not ruled out an early committee endorsement for the Pennsylvania Republican.

“Pat Toomey and Sen. Cornyn agree that we can’t tax and spend our way out of the current economic crisis, and that we need checks and balances in Washington to counter the Obama administration’s out-of-control government spending,— NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh said. “It’s clear based on the Toomey campaign’s initial fundraising success that that message is resonating, which is why Sen. Cornyn wanted to lend some personal financial support to his campaign.—

Cornyn isn’t the only Republican who is giving to Toomey in the wake of Specter’s switch. The former Congressman announced he raised more than $1 million in the 60 days since he declared his candidacy.

Toomey also announced that he tapped Specter’s former fundraiser, Louisa Boyd, to be his primary fundraiser for the race. Fellow GOP fundraisers Amy Petraglia and Carey Dunn have also signed on with Toomey’s campaign.

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