WASHINGTON — A wealthy Texas homebuilder who helped finance the anti-John Kerry Swift Boat Veterans for Truth in 2004 contributed $7 million to American Crossroads, making him the top contributor to one of the main groups dedicated to helping Republicans win control of Congress.
The donor, Bob Perry of Houston, donated the money over the past six weeks, single-handedly accounting for nearly half of the group’s fundraising in 43 days.
Donald Trump also contributed to the group, though hardly as generously. The New York celebrity real estate developer gave $50,000. Robert Rowling, a Texas Republican donor and chief executive of a company whose holdings include Omni Hotels, and his holding company have donated a total of $4.8 million.
American Crossroads reported the contributions in documents it planned to file with the Federal Election Commission Wednesday.
Overall, the American Crossroads reports show a total fundraising of $15 million over 43 days. As of Oct. 13, the group had raised $24.1 million this year.
American Crossroads and its affiliate, Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies, were formed this year with help from GOP guru Karl Rove to help supplement the Republican Party’s efforts during this year’s midterm elections.
Unlike its sister organization, which is organized as a political group, Crossroads GPS is a nonprofit tax-exempt group that does not have to disclose its donors. Together, the two groups aim to raise $65 million for the election.
The two groups account for some of the biggest spending in Senate and House contests, mostly paying for ads critical of Democrats.
Perry gained national attention in 2004 for financially backing Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and its attacks on Kerry, then the Democratic presidential candidate.
Other donors to American Crossroads include Bradley Wayne Hughes, founder and chairman of Public Storage who has donated $2.3 million.
A Tulsa private firm owned by Joseph W. Craft III, who also runs a coal mining enterprise, contributed $2 million.
Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee raised $17 million in September and entered the final weeks of the election campaign with $13.2 million in the bank, a party official said.
The official said the DNC also raised $11.1 million in the first 13 days of October. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the totals had not yet been filed officially with the Federal Election Commission.
The DNC has consistently outraised the Republican National Committee, providing a financial bulwark for Democrats as they face a difficult midterm election.
The RNC was expected to report raising $9.7 million for September. Republican-allied groups such as American Crossroads have made up for weak party fundraising, collecting money in unlimited amounts and spending it in key battleground races.
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