Updated with new title
Crossposted on Raising Kaine and MyDD
From The Hill News:
The National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) has named Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) to head up its executive committee for the 2008 election cycle, according to a release yesterday.
Tom Davis resumes the same sweet deal that put him in the middle of the Abramoff scandal and allowed him to funnel over $230,000 in campaign contributions to his wife in Virginia state races.
Tom Davis could also use the money himself. He is jockeying to take over Sen. Jim Webb's title as the state's junior senator.
Is it any wonder why Tom Davis voted against reforming campaign financing and lobbyist influence? Read more...
Davis, Abramoff and Delay worked on the K Street Project and Pay-to-Play politics in the NRCC after 1998 and illegally funnelled money to sham groups, resulting in fines from the FEC. Some of that money also ended up illegally in Texas to gerry-mander the state legislature and steal the 5 House seats they needed for a majority. The way the NRCC remembers it, "During his tenure as chairman of the campaign committee, Davis defied expectations in 2002 when he expanded the Republican majority."
The NRCC is also the third largest career donor to his second wife, Jeannemarie Devolites Davis. By taking this position, Davis is situated to strong arm more national money for his wife in her tough local race against Chap Petersen.
Chief Deputy Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) will head up the NRCC’s fundraising effort ...
"Eric Cantor has been a great ally and a committed supporter of the NRCC in previous cycles. He has the know-how and the contacts needed to help us raise the funds that will be vital in the next election cycle," Cole said.
Cantor was the top contributor in the House during the 2006 election cycle and has raised millions of dollars for the Republican Party over the last three terms, according to the release.