Make wishtv.com your home page

Democrats hope GOP donors choose Trump over Holcomb

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) –  Donald Trump’s running mate Mike Pence will appear at a private fundraiser in downtown Indianapolis Tuesday night that is expected to raise a million dollars.

It might be news for Indiana Democrats who hope that money from GOP donors in this state will go to the Trump campaign instead of going to Eric Holcomb, the Republican in the race for governor.

Tickets to the fundraiser at the JW Marriott range from $1,000 to $250,000 with the money going to the Republican National Committee to benefit the Trump campaign.

Combine that with the money raised at a fundraiser held on the day Trump and Pence made this July appearance in Westfield, along with an August fundraiser in Evansville, and you’ve got a pretty big sum.

“Pushing $5 million,” said Indiana Trump chairman Rex Early, “and that’s a lot of money for Indiana, but there’s a lot of people that want Trump to win in Indiana, too.”

The campaign of John Gregg, the Democrat running for governor, believes some of those donors are choosing Trump over statewide candidates.

“You put your money where you think it can be most effective,” said Jeff Harris of the Gregg campaign, “and clearly Republican donors in Indiana are investing in the Trump/Pence campaign and not the Holcomb/Crouch campaign.”

The campaign of Republican Eric Holcomb believes it will still have the resources it needs.

“This campaign is gonna be won on message. It’s gonna be won on who the candidates are,” said spokesman Pete Seat. “It’s not gonna be a dollar for dollar fistfight.”