Barbour Withdrawal May Help Others Snag Donations

The withdrawal of Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour from the Republican presidential race gives the remaining candidates a lot of opportunity for cash, Politico reports. That’s because Barbour has proven himself one of the most adept fundraisers in American political history and would have received many donations that can now go to others.

He did yeoman-like fundraising work as head of both the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Republican Governors’ Association. Barbour raised $130 million for the RNC in 1994, setting a record. Then in 1996, the RNC brought in more than $300 million for the 1996 presidential campaign, topping the Democratic National Committee by more than $100 million, despite the fact that a Democrat, Bill Clinton, occupied the White House. And last year, the RGA, under Barbour’s leadership, raised a record $115 million.

Barbour ally Bobbie Kilberg, a Virginia fundraiser, says he’s already heard from Mitt Romney and the camps of Tim Pawlenty and Jon Huntsman since Barbour withdrew.