Dark money to the rescue of the stumblin’, bumblin’ Tobin

Last week I told you that the anointed GOP establishment pick, House Speaker Andy Tobin, can’t raise money and he has pissed away what money he has on consultants, legal teams and campaign advisers, forcing him to “go dark” in the final weeks of the GOP primary. (Update) CD 1 Clusterfuck GOP Primary.

Now dark money is coming to the rescue of the stumblin’, bumblin’ Tobin. The Arizona Republic reports Outside groups make push for Tobin in rural Arizona:

Outside groups are making a last-minute effort to push Republican Andy Tobin over the hump in the 1st Congressional District primary, taking to radio and television airwaves where he has been absent this campaign.

A week from the primary, two groups are taking the lead: Preserve America’s Future, an Arizona-run superPAC, and Main Street Advocacy, a national “dark money” non-profit group. They have spent about $50,000 so far with more expected to come.

Preserve America’s Future plans to air a 30-second TV spot starting Wednesday through the election, the group’s director Nathan Sproul said.

Ah yes, Nathan Sproul [SourceWatch], the GOP’s voter suppression specialist. Nathan Sproul, Long Trailed by Voter Fraud Claims (investigated by Florida, Colorado and Nevada in 2012). If it wasn’t for his highly placed political connections, this guy would be serving time by now. Nice friends you got there, Andy. Stay classy.

The group’s major donor is Tucson car-dealer king Jim Click, co-chair of Tobin’s finance committee.

This Oklahoman car dealer and GOP bundler is also a co-chair of “Cathi’s Clown” Doug Ducey’s gubernatorial campaign (and probably a half dozen others), also a major benefactor of dark money. I’ve noticed over the years that the GOP’s voter suppression specialist Nathan Sproul and GOP bundler Jim Click frequently are mentioned together in the same news report. It’s like they are joined at the hip. (Just an observation).

Sproul would not disclose the total money Preserve America’s Future plans to spend, but a source not affiliated with the group tracked at least $7,000 so far in the Tucson market. That figure is tiny compared to the roughly $300,000 that Kwasman and Kiehne have spent on television already, but it is expected to increase daily.

Main Street Advocacy, a centrist Republican group that backed establishment Sen. Thad Cochran in a tough race in Mississippi, has spent $40,000 on radio ads to support Tobin.

[Go nuts Teabaggers!]

Critics view the effort as too little, too late for Tobin. Early voting began weeks ago.

The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a big backer of comprehensive immigration reform, is also coming to the rescue of the stumblin’, bumblin’ Tobin. US Chamber puts money behind Andy Tobin:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is stepping in to help a Republican preferred by the establishment in a bruising three-way Arizona primary in one of the most competitive House districts in the country.

The powerful business group is putting hundreds of thousands of dollars behind a television ad for state House Speaker Andy Tobin, filling a void for the financially strapped GOP candidate, who has been unable to spend on television advertising.

The Chamber ad, which begins airing on Thursday on broadcast and cable, focuses on Tobin and the Democratic incumbent, Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, and makes no mention of the two other Republicans [in the GOP primary].

* * *

“For us, he’s the only candidate in the race who can draw a stark contrast with Kirkpatrick,” said Rob Engstrom, national political director for the Chamber.

The business organization has taken an aggressive role in Republican primaries this election cycle, spending millions of dollars to sway the outcome in crowded primaries and help the GOP nominate viable general election candidates in House and Senate races. Establishment Republicans blame tea party and right-flank candidates for costing the GOP seats in 2010 and 2012.

The Chamber also has faced opposition from some conservatives to top agenda items, such as comprehensive immigration reform.

Are you Teabaggers going to take this lying down? C’mon you slackers! Fight the GOP establishment you despise so much. Just say no to the dark money candidates.