Tim Johnson and 30 More Senate Democrats Host Fundraiser for Rick Weiland

In the Broken Record Department, the Republican spin machine recycles the claim that U.S. Senate candidate Rick Weiland isn't popular with D.C. Democrats. The only basis for this claim remains Senator Harry Reid's one-off reaction to Weiland's announcement back in May and the recent assertion of an unnamed source.

Remember, this line comes from the same propaganda mill that wishfully asserted for weeks that Weiland was simply a placeholder candidate... an utterly illogical claim soundly refuted by Weiland's five months on the road touring well over 200 South Dakota towns (while Mike Rounds has done what, 20? Who's the placeholder now?). Shouting that D.C. Dems don't like Weiland has its own illogic: getting the Senate Majority Leader to say Weiland is not his guy brilliantly defuses the predictable SDGOP attacks that would ensue if Weiland ran photos of Reid giving him a big hug.

Further refuting both claims is the Weiland fundraiser over which the National Republican Senate Committee is making a fuss. This evening from 5 to 7 at the Credit Union House, Weiland will enjoy a big-ticket fundraiser hosted by a whole bunch of high-power Democrats who clearly think he's their guy. Joining Senator Tim Johnson on the official invitation's host committee are Max Baucus, Mark Begich, Richard Blumenthal, Barbara Boxer, Sherrod Brown, Chris Coons, Joe Donnelly, Richard Durbin, Al Franken, Kirsten Gillibrand, Tom Harkin, Tim Kaine, Amy Klobuchar, Mary Landrieu, Patrick Leahy, Edward Markey, Claire McCaskill, Robert Menendez, Jeff Merkley, Christopher Murphy, Bill Nelson, Mark Pryor, Jack Reed, Brian Schatz, Charles Schumer, Jeanne Shaheen, Debbie Stabenow, Elizabeth Warren, Sheldon Whitehouse, Ron Wyden.

That's 31 Democratic Senators, a majority of the Senate majority. Weiland looks like the Senate Dems' guy to me.