Projo Politics Blog

The state GOP is counting on a fundraiser at Governor Carcieri’s summer home in Saunderstown (North Kingstown) to plump up its coffers.

With ticket prices ranging from $50 per person to $90 per couple to $500 for “a sponsor," party spokeswoman Donna Perry anticipated last night’s event would raise between $10,000 and $12,000 for what Rhode Island’s ever-hopeful but persistently outnumbered GOP is calling “A Bridge To Rhode Island’s Future.”

As of June 30, the Republican State Central Committee had $39,471 left in its account after paying staff salaries, rent and fees to fundraising consultant Aaron McGarry’s Chase Consulting, in Thompson, Conn. ($4,000) and the Allied Group in Cranston ($3,615). Both firms had roles in the state party’s e-mail and donor-letter solicitations.

(Rhode Island Democrats, by contrast, ended the last quarter with $76,523.72 in the bank.)

By last Friday, the Republicans had a reported $65,000. But spokeswoman Perry acknowledged the jump since the last quarter ended was largely attributable to an infusion of state income-tax checkoffs.

---