Hey, the bag and pumps will go to a "charitable purpose".
jwm
October 22, 2008
GOP Spent $150, 000 in Donations on Palin's Look
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 10:25 a.m. ET
WASHINGTON (AP) -- John McCain's presidential campaign said thousands of dollars worth of clothing purchased by the Republican Party for running mate Sarah Palin will go to a ''charitable purpose'' after the campaign.
The Republican National Committee spent about $150,000 on clothing, hair styling, makeup and other ''campaign accessories'' in September for the McCain campaign after Palin, the governor of Alaska, joined the ticket.
The expenses include $75,062 spent at Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis Minn., and $41,850 in St. Louis in early September. The committee also reported spending $4,100 for makeup and hair consulting. The expenses were first reported by Politico.com.
''With all of the important issues facing the country right now, it's remarkable that we're spending time talking about pantsuits and blouses,'' said McCain spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt, who has been traveling with Palin. ''It was always the intent that the clothing go to a charitable purpose after the campaign.''
The RNC has been helping the McCain campaign financially now that McCain is locked into spending only $84 million for the fall campaign under his agreement to accept public financing. Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, chose not to participate in the public system and raised a whopping $150 million in September.
The RNC is allowed to spend up to $19 million in ''coordinated expenses'' with the campaign. In September, it spent a a total of $4.4 million. The clothing and styling was part of that, but most was spent on postage for campaign mailings.
Federal campaign finance law prohibits the use of campaign funds for personal use, but it defines personal use as any expense ''that would exist irrespective of the candidate's campaign or duties as a federal officeholder.''
