Barbara Boxer (Getty)
It's not clear who stands to gain more from the joint fundraising effort between California Sen.
Barbara Boxer and Minnesota Senate hopeful
Al Franken, and perhaps that's the point.
The two Democrats are joining forces via a new fundraising committee, Boxer-Franken 2009, to raise money for Boxer's 2010 re-election bid and Franken's legal expenses associated with the recount and court proceedings in his still-to-be determined 2008 Senate race against Republican Norm Coleman.
Franken spokeswoman Jess McIntosh confirmed that the committee will host a fundraising event in July.
"It's a way to combine efforts and reach out to donors who support both candidates," said Rose Kapolczynski, Boxer's campaign manager.
She said Boxer has "been a strong supporter of Al Franken" throughout his campaign and wants to help in his efforts to pay off seven months, and counting, of legal bills. The Minnesota Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the outcome of the Senate race on June 1, and Coleman has not ruled out appealing to the federal courts should his appeal at the state level fail.
Al Franken (Getty)
Boxer's need for cash is not as immediate but as Kapolczynski noted, she is "gearing up for her reelection in 2010."
Boxer reported $4.6 million in the bank at the end of March, and has yet to attract a serious challenger. But it certainly can't hurt to tap into the batch of Democratic donors Franken has attracted as a liberal cause celebre, particularly given how expensive it is to campaign in California.
"Hopefully the recount fund won't need funds very much longer," said Kapolczynski, who said the pair may conduct more events "after Al Franken becomes Sen. Franken."
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