Michael Steele

The campaign of former U.S. Rep Anne Northup (R-Louisville) will report it raised $625,000 in the second fundraising quarter of 2008 to end the period with $819,000 on hand, according to a spokesman for the campaign.

Since Northup jumped in the 3rd Congressional District race in January, she has raised a total of $1.1 million.

Her campaign has been bolstered by out-of-state fundraising help on at least one occasion, when GOPAC chairman and former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele appeared in Louisville at an event on her behalf.

Congressional candidate Anne NorthupLOUISVILLE -- Former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup (R-Louisville) echoed the keynote speaker at her campaign's Wednesday afternoon fundraiser, arguing that the electoral picture for Republicans is brighter this year than in 2006 - when she lost the 3rd Congressional District seat she is again seeking to current incumbent U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville).

"You can almost not imagine a worst climate than 2 years ago," Northup told PolitickerKY.com yesterday. "A lot has changed."

Earlier in the afternoon, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele told a crowd at the Seelbach Hilton in downtown Louisville that many Republicans who did not "deserve" to lose in 2006 were caught up in losses caused by general anti-Republican sentiment.

Former Lt. Governor Michael Steele (R-Maryland) greets supporters of former U.S. Rep Anne Northup (R-Louisville) on Wednesday: Politicker photo

LOUISVILLE -- GOPAC Chair and former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele told around 100 assembled supporters of former U.S. Rep Anne Northup (R-Louisville) that Northup was the victim of circumstance during her 2006 loss to current incumbent U.S. Rep John Yarmuth (D-Louisville).

"It wasn't that her opponent had better ideas, a better vision, a better gameplan," said Steele. "It was that he took advantage of the opportunity to score the political points he needed to score against an incumbent who was running in a very tough cycle with an unpopular war, an unpopular president, and an unpopular party."

"Caught in those crosswinds at that turbulent moment were a lot of good individuals like Anne, who , but for that cycle and but for that ugliness, would have survived the storm," added Steele. "And sometime in politics there isn't enough to survive the storm and you take the hit."

GOPAC Chair and former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele told PolitickerKY.com today that former U.S. Rep Anne Northup's (R-Louisville) bid to regain the 3rd Congressional District seat in Kentucky was a major target for national Republicans.

"It's a big priority, otherwise I wouldn't be coming in, suffice it to say," said Steele.

Steele will be in Louisville on Wednesday to headline a lunch-hour fundraiser for Northup at the Seelbach Hotel.

"Her race is one people look at very closely to see how that part of the country is feeling and views national trends," Steele added. "For her to come back strong bodes well for the future of the country."

Polwatchers is reporting U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) will be in Prospect tommorrow night to raise money for state Sen. Brett Guthrie's (R-Bowling Green) bid for Kentucky's open 2nd Congressional District.

The fundraiser will reportedly be held at home of Bill Samuels, president of the Kentucky bourbon brand, Maker's Mark.

Boehner will be the second big-name national Republican to hit the state for a fundraiser on behalf of Guthrie.

In late March, Vice President Cheney briefly stopped in Lexington for a lunch-hour event to raise funds for Guthrie's campaign.

Former U.S. Rep Anne Northup (R-Louisville) is bringing in a little out-of-state fundraising help to aid in her bid to regain the 3rd Congressional District seat she lost in 2006.

Former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele will touch down in Kentucky for a June 18 lunch-hour fundraiser for Northup.

"Michael Steele is a very well-respected Republican in our party," said Scott Will, Northup's campaign manager. "He understands the importance of this race. He has been helping out other Republicans throughout the country and we are happy to have him in Louisville."