The Cornyn Caveat: What The NRSC Will Do -- And Won't Do -- In Primaries

One day after National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman John Cornyn promised that his group wouldn't spend money in the Republican primaries, a Republican Senate candidate in Arkansas has gotten some attention for an upcoming fundraiser of his at the National Republican Senatorial Committee headquarters in Washington. Candidate Gilbert Baker has six Republican primary opponents, including the head of the Arkansas Tea Party movement.

The AP says that Cornyn is listed as a host of the 11/19 fundraiser, along with three other GOP heavyweights, including the top Senate Republican, Mitch McConnell.

An NRSC spokesperson told the AP that the fundraiser does not imply that Cornyn is endorsing Mr.Baker. Other candidates, the spokesperson said, could also have their fundraisers at the NRSC.

Another NRSC spokesperson, Brian Walsh, tells this column that Cornyn is raising money in his personal capacity as a senator and not in his capacity as an NRSC chair -- and that he did not promise that the NRSC wouldn't help candidates raise money.

Walsh also said that the NRSC headquarters building, the Ronald Reagan Center in Northeast Washington, was available for any Senate candidate who wanted to use it.

http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/11/thought_the_nrsc_wasnt_going_to_help_its_candidates_who_face_primaries.php