Great Start to 2010

The RGA hit the ground running in the first week of 2010. On Monday, we
announced that we raised an all-time record of $30 million in 2009 and
carried forward $25 million into this year. Our record-breaking year
allowed us to invest $13 million to win the New Jersey and Virginia
governors’ races and still outraise the DGA by $7 million and hold a $7.5
million cash-on-hand advantage. Our financial success also means that we
will be able to execute a larger political budget than the DGA, which
announced it would spend around $40 million on the 37 races taking place
this year.

RGA Executive Director Nick Ayers summarized our position best in a
Politico story on our fundraising haul: “We raised more, saved more and won more than DGA in 2009, and that’s a good forecast of what’s to come in 2010.”

The RGA also announced this week seven new additions to our political
staff to help guide us through the 2010 elections. The new hires include:

– Dennise Casey, Political Field Director
– Casey’s most recent roles were as Deputy Chief of Staff and
Communications Director for Governor Jim Douglas and as his campaign
manager.

– Phil Cox, Political Field Director
– Cox managed Bob McDonnell’s gubernatorial campaign.

– Greg Graves, Political Field Director
– Graves has been a partner at Gordian Strategies and worked as executive
director of the New Mexico Republican Party.

– Bill Klucas, Political Field Director
– Klucas has been an independent contractor for the Tarrance Group and has
campaign experience dating back to 1965.

– Brice Kornegay, Political Field Director
– Kornegay is a former field representative at the National Republican
Congressional Committee and campaign manager for Tom Cole’s congressional
campaign.

– Tim Murtaugh, Director of Political Communications
– Murtaugh served as communications director at the Virginia GOP during
the 2009 election cycle.

– Kiley Smith, Political Field Director
– Smith most recently served as the Northern Virginia Field Director of
Bob McDonnell’s gubernatorial campaign. She previously was executive
director at the Republican Party of King County, Washington.

Bringing top-flight talent in-house means the RGA will spend less money on
consultants and more money putting lead on the target in all our
competitive races.