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Ensign campaign reports raising $50 in first quarter
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Duane Prokop/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Robert Donald of Las Vegas stands in front of his house Wednesday next to a slightly faded John Ensign campaign sign and wearing a Battle Born political action committee shirt. In the first quarter of this year, Donald is the only person to have made contributions to Ensign -- and they totaled $50. » Buy this photo
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STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU
WASHINGTON -- Scandal-ridden Sen. John Ensign received only $50 from a single donor during the first three months of this year as the fallout from his extramarital affair continued to take a striking toll.
Robert Donald, a Las Vegas retiree, cut two $25 checks to Ensign on March 19, according to the latest campaign reports filed with the Senate.
"I think he is a great senator," Donald said. "He is no different from any other man in my view. He screwed up maybe in his personal life, but as far as someone I want representing me for my views in the Senate, he's fine. That's why I like him and that's why I sent him money. Is that bad? Did I do something wrong?"
The campaign finance report covering January through March was evidence that Ensign's political prospects continue to fall in the wake of his admitted affair, and the ethics and criminal investigations it has spawned.
The once rising Republican star has raised less than $35,000 in political contributions since July, shortly after he admitted he had an extramarital relationship with Cindy Hampton, a former campaign aide who was a friend of Ensign's wife.
Under normal circumstances, a senator can raise that amount in an afternoon making phone calls.
Ensign's personal political action committee, the Battle Born PAC, also has gone into a fundraising freeze. It raised no money during the first three months of this year.
Reports also show Ensign paid $14,321 from his PAC and his campaign fund during the first quarter in legal fees to Fish & Richardson, a Boston law firm handling his defense in the investigations, after paying the firm $18,600 last year.
"He is under a cloud and people are reluctant to go out of their way to support someone financially if they don't feel their investment is going to be worthwhile," said David Levinthal, communications director for the Center for Responsive Politics.
"If he is able to emerge from the political wilderness, then perhaps his financial fortunes are going to turn, but clearly nobody is going out on a limb," Levinthal said.
Ensign's last known fundraiser was June 26, a $5,000-per-person golf outing at Bandon Dunes Golf Course, a seaside resort in Oregon, according to the Sunlight Foundation, a watchdog group that tracks political events.
Ensign did not comment on the paltry fundraising Wednesday. Spokeswoman Jennifer Cooper said he "has taken a break from fundraising but is looking to restart these efforts this year."
Ensign has $980,498 left in his campaign bank account.
The money drought renews questions about his political future, particularly if authorities prolong ethics and criminal investigations into his actions after the affair.
Authorities with the Senate Ethics Committee and the Justice Department have not confirmed the scope of their parallel investigations, but reports have suggested they are checking into several allegations.
Among them is whether Ensign helped Doug Hampton, his mistress' husband, obtain work as a lobbyist in violation of a one-year cooling-off period, and whether Ensign put an arm on Nevada companies to hire Hampton or make campaign contributions in exchange for help from his office.
Ensign is up for re-election in 2012 and has said he plans to run for another six-year term. But a dwindling campaign fund could encourage possible opponents.
Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., who has signaled interest in running for the Senate in 2012, had $1.6 million in her campaign account as of March 31 in preparation for a House race that favors her for re-election.
Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., another lawmaker who is said to be looking at the Senate, had $497,390 on hand. He also is favored for re-election to the House this year before he could turn his attention to a 2012 campaign.
Contacted Wednesday, Robert Donald, 75, was surprised to learn he was the only person in the United States who had donated to Ensign since the beginning of the year. He also gave Ensign at least $400 last year.
Donald was a police lieutenant in Newark, N.J., before retiring to Nevada. He said he had volunteered for Ensign in the past "and shook his hand a couple of times," but otherwise does not know him personally.
"I'm half-Italian and half-Scot," Donald said. "I grew up in an all-Italian neighborhood. Loyalty was one of our biggest assets when I was young and up to now.
"I just can't see people who will be there when you are fat and happy and everything is going good, and as soon as a little something goes wrong, they stab you in the back and run. I am not that type of person."
Besides, Donald said, "I think all men are dogs. We are out there sniffing here and sniffing there. And if something shows up, your testosterone goes right to work. That's what I believe."
Donald said of Ensign: "I know he's over that. I know he's repented, and I know he is sorry for what he did, and I am pretty sure he will still make a good senator."
Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760.
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Ensign is a member of the bizarre cult "The Family".
Last time we heard about a family that creepy it was the Manson family.
"Tony wrote on April 22, 2010 02:46 PM: Ensign is a good Senator but not Husband of the Year. I cannot imagine anything more frightening than Shelly berkely as a Senator. I will take Ensign any day over her."
Uh, Berkley isn't running for Senator and nobody cares about the hypothetical fantasy scenario your little con mind dreamed up.
"Robert Donald of Las Vegas stands in front of his house Wednesday next to a slightly faded John Ensign campaign sign and wearing a Battle Born political action committee shirt. In the first quarter of this year, Donald is the only person to have made contributions to Ensign -- and they totaled $50."
Gotta love that pseudo-patriot flag that the boy wraps himself in. A typical Fox News watcher.
Its NOT about the indiscretions...from the days of Bill Clinton to Larry Craig, Governor Sanford, and all the rest, we Americans have become immune to these kind of indiscretions.
It is about the structuring of transactions to avoid reporting moneys paid to the Hamptons. It's about the alleged favors to find the Hampton's work and/or clients in exchange for buying them quiet.
$96,000 structured to pay Hampton, his wife, and one kid (I guess the other kid was left out?...paying that kid would have put them over the $100,000 which would have required the reporting?) was an illegal structuring of "payments" so they shouldn't have to be reported to the authorities.
If it were just about the sex, it would be bad enough. This is corruption at its worst.
Ensign called on fellow Republican Larry Craig to resign..I guess man-on-man sex was too much for our Senator to handle. But illegally buying off your mistress and her husband seems to be o.k.?
Imagine when we are represented by both Lowden and Ensign at the same time.
We get what we deserve.
Ensign had his own little chicken "ranch" in Washintron on C Street.
I'm starting my chicken farm so I can barter with my doc for his good services!
Stuart & Robert Wyman-Cahall
Las Vegas, NV 89142
Harry Reid, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Tim Geithner, Charlie Rangle, Bill "BJ" Clinton...these are all felons yet we are concerned about an affair? I thought you libtards were the ones who said " what he does in his personal life doesn't affect matter to me."
Hey, man...I totally agree with you regarding corporations going overseas. However, I don't understand how you can blame it solely on Obama's policies without mentioning the eight years of tax breaks and incentives Bush gave to corporations who did the same thing during his administration. How is this all and only Obama's fault now?
Harry Reid received over $37,000 from a Goldman Sachs sponsored fundraiser.
Donald.and Ensign. A couple. Of crazy. Vegas guys