Ashdown Raises $8K For Charity, Sends Message to Opponent

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Two days before U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch is scheduled to hold a high-dollar fundraising featuring President George W. Bush, his democratic opponent Pete Ashdown held a decidedly different event:

"I have been continually dismayed by the amount of money put into political campaigns and the tunnel vision that candidates have on fundraising an wanted to provide some contrast to that," says Ashdown. "Senator Hatch doesn't need to raise anymore money for this race or any race in the future."

Hatch has raised more than two million dollars, compared to the one hundred and fifteen thousand dollars Ashdown has gathered. Still, the democrat held a fundraising event last night to fight hunger, raising more than eight-thousand dollars - a better collection than any fundraising event he's held for his own campaign:

"I think it also indicates the weariness the public has with the political process and the money that goes into it," says Ashdown. "It didn't take any effort at all to get 150 people out to a benefit for the needy. Trying to get people out to benefit a politician is another thing altogether."

Ashdown bought dinner for his 150 guests at the Alta Club and they, in turn, made donations to a host of charities including Utahns Against Hunger, Crossroads Urban Center and the Road Home.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom and Election Coverage. Copyright 2009 KCPW