GOP candidate Romney plans Evansville fundraiser

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) -- Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has scheduled a fundraising trip to Evansville next month, although no public campaign events are yet planned as he tries to win in the state that President Barack Obama carried in the 2008 election.

The former Massachusetts governor is scheduled to attend a private event Aug. 4 at the home of former Black Beauty Coal Co. chairman Steve Chancellor, the Evansville Courier & Press reported Tuesday.

Vanderburgh County Republican chairman Wayne Parke said local party leaders don't yet know whether Romney will have any other activities in Evansville during the trip.

"That doesn't mean he's not going to," Parke said.

Romney's last visit to Indiana was for a May 7 private fundraiser in Indianapolis, with his last public event in the state being a September speech in Indianapolis.

Romney campaign spokesman Michael Levoff told The Associated Press that he couldn't yet confirm any activities for the Evansville trip.

Republicans are looking to recapture Indiana's electoral votes in November after Obama in 2008 became the first Democratic presidential candidate in 44 years to win the state. That victory came after Obama made dozens of campaign appearances around the state and GOP nominee John McCain paid scant attention to Indiana.

Proceeds from the Evansville reception will go to Romney Victory Inc., a campaign fundraising committee to which donors may contribute up to $75,800 during this election cycle. Tickets for the fundraiser start at $2,500 a person.

The invitation says others expected to attend the August event include former Vice President Dan Quayle, actress Bo Derek and several Republican congressional candidates from Indiana and Kentucky.

Chancellor, who is CEO of the American Patriot Group holding company, has hosted Republican fundraiser events before, including one in 2004 attended by former President George H.W. Bush, retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf and Quayle.
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   Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, http://www.courierpress.com