Booker has been especially active — his travel itinerary reads like an atlas of at-risk Democratic incumbents. He’s raised money for grateful colleagues in Florida, Ohio, Indiana, Montana and Michigan, among others, according to Democrats familiar with the itinerary.
On his rainmaking tour, the New Jersey senator has also held events designed to fill his own coffers, including at the home of Hollywood agent Michael Kives, a prominent party fundraiser for candidates such as Clinton.
Booker is one of many currently working the circuit; Kives is also set to host his home-state senator Harris next month as she steps up her own fundraising. The first-year lawmaker spent last weekend meeting with top party fundraisers in the Hamptons, and she has already raised over $600,000 for Senate colleagues in 2017 while planning a fall tour for more, according to individuals familiar with Harris’ plans.
Warren, a fundraising juggernaut, has made several California fundraising stops, including one in San Francisco where the Massachusetts senator joined Esprit founder Susie Tompkins Buell, a high-level party donor and close Clinton friend. Another gave Warren face time with Oakland Athletics part-owner Guy Saperstein, who in 2016 offered Warren $1 million to run for president.
Like Booker and Harris, Warren is also lending a helping hand to her Senate colleagues. She headlined a crowded, low-dollar, private Detroit fundraiser for Sen. Debbie Stabenow in April, ahead of the Michigan senator’s potentially tough 2018 race. Warren, who is planning an ambitious fundraising schedule for colleagues in the coming months, also sent $10,000 checks to a handful of vulnerable Senate colleagues.
Others still — including Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Chris Murphy of Connecticut — have spent the opening months of Trump’s presidency building intimidating campaign war chests that could both scare off potential opponents and turn into groundwork for potential presidential funds in two years. Murphy, for example, is sitting on over $5 million, with no prominent challenger.
A wide range of senators, including potential national hopefuls Murphy, Warren, Tim Kaine, Sherrod Brown, Al Franken, Amy Klobuchar and Jeff Merkley also recently attended the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s fundraising weekend in Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/30/democrats-2020-elections-2018-midterms-240958
