Key GOP senators host Rossi fundraiser

WASHINGTON — Dino Rossi, who declared a run for Patty Murray's Senate seat with the pledge to take back Washington and "unleash the power of the people," on Tuesday mingled with some of the folks who constitute the D.C. establishment: politicians and lobbyists.

In the first high-powered fundraiser of his campaign, Rossi was embraced by a dozen Senate incumbents at a reception that seemed to serve as a de facto endorsement from the Republican Party.

A handful of other Republicans, including tea-party favorite Clint Didier and Bellingham businessman Paul Akers, are running for the seat.

Among the hosts at the fundraiser were Sen. Orrin Hatch, of Utah, vice chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and Sen. Lamar Alexander, of Tennessee, Senate GOP Conference chairman. Sen. Jim DeMint, of South Carolina, Sen. Tom Coburn, of Oklahoma, and Sen. Bob Corker, of Tennessee, were some of the others scheduled to attend.

The event near the U.S. Capitol was held at Polaris Consulting, a lobbying firm that promises clients "unparalleled access, expertise and experience." It was organized by The Gula Graham Group, a Republican fundraising and consulting company in Washington, D.C.

Tickets cost $500 per person and $1,000 for each PAC, or political-action committee. Co-host designations cost $1,000 per person and $2,000 per PAC. Reporters were not allowed at the reception.

Rossi's campaign previously had criticized Murray for taking large contributions from lobbyists, pointing out that Rossi raised $600,000 in the first six days of his candidacy "from voters, not lobbyists."

On Tuesday, Jennifer Morris, Rossi's communications director, said in an e-mail: "Dino welcomes the support of anyone who's ready to work in good faith to create jobs and change the direction the country is headed by putting an end to trillion-dollar budget deficits, industrywide bailouts and government waste."

Democrats pounced on what they saw as Rossi's hypocrisy. Anne Martens, spokeswoman for the Washington State Democratic Party, accused the former state senator and two-time gubernatorial candidate of hobnobbing with the very people he vowed to take on.

Hatch, DeMint and all the other hosts "are establishment Republicans. And they're looking to get another establishment Republican elected," Martens said.

Martens, and Murray's office were particularly incensed that one of Rossi's supporters in the Senate on Tuesday blocked passage of Murray's Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans With Children Act.

Murray had sought to push the bill through the Senate through unanimous consent. But Coburn, through Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, objected because he said the $3.4 billion cost over five years would add to the deficit.

Kyung Song: 202-662-7455 or ksong@seattletimes.com