A new GOP force in the wide-open Senate race | Political Insider blog

A new group called the Senate Battleground Fund held its first fundraiser Sunday evening, and it was a big one. The event featured ex-GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus at the Buckhead home of Jeff Sprecher and Kelly Loeffler, the power couple behind the takeover of the New York Stock Exchange.

Organizers say the more than $1 million the fund raised, plus takings from other planned events, will be used to boost the eventual GOP nominee – whoever he or she may be.

“It’s important that Republicans hold on to the Senate seat in Georgia as we look to a year where Republicans have a good chance at taking the Senate majority,” said Eric Tanenblatt, the well-known GOP insider who helped organize the event with Fred Cooper. “And the fact that Gov. Romney and Chairman Priebus joined Sens. Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss at this event, it shows the importance and significance of the Georgia race to winning a Senate majority.”

Republicans need to pick up six seats to control the Senate, but losing a GOP-held seat in Georgia would be a blow to their efforts. The group is a joint fundraising committee between the RNC and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and we’re told both groups will likely divvy up the funds to back the GOP nominee and target Democratic frontrunner Michelle Nunn.

via A new GOP force in the wide-open Senate race | Political Insider blog.