Associated Press Published

Rove to Fundraise for Jenkins' Congressional Bid

karlrove.jpg

  A former top adviser to President George W. Bush will raise money for Republican congressional challenger Evan Jenkins next week in West Virginia.

The Jenkins campaign says Karl Rove is heading to Huntington for a Sept. 9 fundraiser. Rove was Bush’s deputy chief of staff and senior adviser.

Rove spearheads an outside group that has already spent $330,000 bashing Jenkins’ opponent, Democratic Congressman Nick Rahall. Groups like Rove’s Crossroads GPS legally can’t coordinate with candidates.

Crossroads GPS is one of several conservative groups spending millions combined in the 3rd Congressional District race. The liberal House Majority PAC is putting millions into its own ads attacking Jenkins.

Jenkins is a state senator who turned from Democrat to Republican to run. Rahall is seeking a 20th term in his coalfield-anchored district.