The Missouri Scout, a political website, reports:
“Missouri’s heavy Republican donors are gathering Wednesday at the [St. Louis] home of Dave and Suzie Spence for a fundraiser for Arkansas gubernatorial candidate Asa Hutchinson.
On the host committee: Oliver J. Bell, Gayle & Fred Palmer, Kimmy & Stephen F. Brauer, Duane Simpson, Cindy & Tim Drury, Jeanne & Rex Sinquefield, Michael D. Harrold, Suzie & David Spence, Jerry M. Hunter, Thelma & David L. Steward, Ray T. Wagner.”
A Missouri political observer elaborates:
Dave Spence is a plastic packaging magnate who was the losing GOP nominee for Missouri governor in 2012. The Drurys are part of the far-right ownership of the Drury hotel chain. Rex Sinquefield is a billionaire retired investor who has spent millions from his fortune to elect far-right candidates and promote elimination of the state income tax and teacher tenure. … Missouri allows in its state races unlimited donations; for example, Rex Sinquefield last week gave a single $250K check to St. Louis State Senator Eric Schmitt as he launched a 2016 bid for state treasurer. Asa has fallen in with some right-wing Missouri moneybags.
Comment: Of course. Asa is presenting as something of a moderate in Arkansas, but he’s not. Happily, there is a $2,000 cap on campaign contributions in Arkansas. Unless this money is going in unlimited sums into a 501C4 or other subterranean organization that will — wink, wink — urge voters to call Asa and congratulate him on his good ideas and call Democrat Mike Ross to tell him he’s Satan. But with Asa in attendance, it would be hard to avoid the appearance of campaign coordination. So it’s probably a cheap ticket for moneybags of this stature.