Washington: Fundraiser

Hawaii governor Linda Lingle, a Republican who was first elected in the Democratic-leaning state in 2002 after a narrow defeat in the 1998 gubernatorial race, will headline a fundraiser for Dino Rossi and the Washington State Republican this Wednesday in Bellevue. Lingle's is a story the Rossi campaign undoubtedly hopes to align itself with this year after narrowly losing the 2004 race.

Summer fundraisers with high-profile national figures are commonplace, especially for incumbents with a challenger hot on their heels, like U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert with Newt Gingrich on Father's Day this or President Bush last year.

But when Michelle Obama, wife of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, comes to town this Thursday to raise money for Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire, things will be different.

For starters, she isn't running for, nor has she ever held any office. But more importantly, this fundraiser has seating for 1600.

U.S. House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) will be the featured guest at a fundraiser for Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Auburn) later this month. The June 28 event will be the second major Reichert benefit of the month, with former Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) in town for a Father's Day event this Sunday.

SEATTLE - In what was dubbed the formal campaign kickoff for Governor Chris Gregoire's re-election, likely the final piece of the ignition that begin on a bus tour in Auburn earlier this month, more than 1300 people ate lunch and contributed to the campaign at Seattle's Westin Hotel. The event, which doubled as a fundraiser charging between $100 for a "Silver Level" ticket up to $2800 to be a "Chris' Crew Member". Free tickets were also available to supporters unable to donate at the silver level.