A new report today confirms that Jason Kander is a massive hypocrite who panders to Missourians by claiming he’ll stand up to lobbyists but quickly changes his tune when the checkbooks open up.
Today’s report in Roll Call spells out in detail the close relationship Kander already enjoys with Washington’s lobbyist community – who expect a “significant payoff” if Kander is elected to office. Within weeks of announcing his Senate bid, Kander held numerous “mutually beneficial” meetings with high-powered insiders who can expect significant influence inside Kander’s official government office.
Jason Kander is a professional at saying one thing and doing another and Missouri families can’t trust him to put them first – not when he’s so willing to sell them out at the first sign of a campaign check from a Washington lobbyist.
Read more here:
Lobbyists Woo Potential Freshmen Long Before Election Day
Connections can help build a political inner circle, swell campaign coffers
Roll Call
By Kate Ackley
August 2, 2017
Jason Kander, the Democratic challenger in Missouri’s Senate race, can already count some K Street lobbyists among his political confidants.
That’s because lobbyists don’t wait until after Election Day to begin courting next year’s freshman class. Influencers are already reaching out to prospective senators and House members, hosting fundraisers and meet-and-greets at which they can provide connections and help swell candidates’ campaign coffers.
Networking with candidates like Kander who are not favored to win could be seen as a waste of time and money. But the payoff could be significant if the politician beats the odds and benefits from the early overtures.
“They do remember folks that were supportive of them early on, so they appreciate it a great deal,” said Cristina Antelo, whose firm, the Podesta Group, held an early event with Kander. “It’s a good way to start off a friendship over time.”
The relationships don’t guarantee access once the lawmaker takes office. But they have provided outlets for lobbyists to offer advice on potential staff hires or help newly settled lawmakers and aides find their way around town.
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Within a week of Kander’s February announcement that he was vying for the seat of GOP Sen. Roy Blunt, Bock said he organized an informal meeting with colleagues and the new candidate. The same thing happened at the Podesta Group, where Antelo said she was sold on Kander’s military service.
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Networking is mutually beneficial for candidates in search of lobbyists who can help them raise money. In deciding whom to back financially, lobbyists take their cues from sitting members of Congress and the party committees
“It’s important for them to get the validation of an existing member or group because you can’t support everybody. You can’t get to know everybody,” said Andy Rosenberg, a partner with Thorn Run Partners.
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Lobbyists like Lehman not only donate money but can foster connections with other party insiders on and off Capitol Hill. Corporate political action committees, by contrast, typically hold back support until after a candidate has won the office.
The wannabes “really appreciate the attention and support when most people won’t give them the time of day until they’re actually elected,” Lehman said.
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Peckinpaugh is planning an average of two meet-and-greets per week for the first few months of 2017 as colleagues and clients seek introductions to the newly elected. The interactions could also help freshmen build an inner circle.
“It can help them in terms of learning about key issues, they might get advice about committee assignments, might get chief of staff candidates,” Peckinpaugh said. “And it can help down the road with fundraising.”