Top Springfield Fundraisers Lining Up for Schweich

PLUS, BELOW: STEELE & BLUNT CAMPS MAKE PEACE

Some of the top Republican fundraisers in Springfield are lining up behind Tom Schweich's candidacy for Auditor and are expected to help him raise around $100,000 at an event featuring former U.N. ambassador John Bolton early next month.

Elaine & Loren Cook, Virginia & Bill Darr, Glenda & Gordon Elliot, Betty & Neal Ethridge, Susan & John Gentry, Caroline & Louis Greisemer, Jeff Layman, Ken Meyer, Jennifer & Joe Passanise and Debbie & Tom Sutherland are all listed, among others, as event sponsors of Schweich's September 8th fundraiser at Springfield's Tower Club, according to an invitation obtained by The Notebook.

Susy & Tom Barr, Rita & Noel Boyd, Mary Kay & Terry Meek, Patti & Al Penny and Anne & Dee Wampler are all listed as event hosts for Schweich.

The names are more evidence of the divide among establishment Republicans in the GOP primary for Auditor. Most state House members have endorsed Budget Chair Allen Icet. To date, most Republican Senators are not committed.

***

MORE FUNDRAISER DEETS: On September 8th, Bolton and Schweich will hold a private roundtable discussion with photo opportunities at 7:30 a.m. The general luncheon will begin around 11:30 a.m.

The Notebook has also learned that GOP consultant Weston McKee will run Schweich's campaign.

ALSO: Schweich was back in Springfield Tuesday for a fundraiser for Sen. Jack Danforth's political action committee, the Republican Leadership Council. Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder spoke at the event and was well-recieved, according to a person who attended.

OTHER BUZZ AT THE EVENT: THE STEELE-JERICHO SAGA . . . GOP sources say the Blunt and Steele camps have already made peace over the lightning-rod appearance on Vincent David Jericho's radio program Friday. Yet there's still a divide over whether it was blown out of proportion or whether Steele made a considerable gaafe.

AND: STRAIGHT TALK? Upper echelon Republicans realize that a Roy Blunt U.S. Senate victory next year is not close to a "lock," but stress that internal polling shows the race to be "very winnable." Basically, despite divides among constituencies within the Republican Party and a non-stop assault from the left on Blunt, GOPers believe that the choice will inevitably come down to whether you want to give the national Democratic Party another Senator. Emboldened by cap & trade and the healthcare debate, Republicans believe that choice "is going to be very favorable for the Republican." And as one said, "And it's a choice that even the Vincent David Jerichos of the world are going to have to make."