Sarah Palin, the former Vice Presidential nominee who quit her post as governor of Alaska to host a television show on Fox News, has become a money magnet in recent months, pulling in $100,000 per speaking engagement and millions in book sales for a recent autobiography. And now, Palin is sharing the wealth.
More precisely, Palin’s PAC, which has been selective in giving money to political candidates, has funneled dollars to 17 Republicans nationwide. And four of them hail from Ohio: John Kasich, Rob Portman, Jean Schmidt and Mary Taylor.
Kasich, whose ties with Fox News may have endeared her to the current gubernatorial candidate, received $5,000 from Palin’s PAC. Portman, a former member of the Bush Administration and the GOP nominee for the U.S. Senate, accepted a check for $3,500. Taylor and Schmidt both received checks for $1,000.
A GOP source familiar with Palin’s thinking said most of these candidates solicited Palin’s support. “She feels there is a real chance to turn the tide in Ohio,” said the source.
“It makes sense to me that she may be looking to a future where Ohio matters to her, and if she’s building support, I think it’s great,” said Alex Triantafilou, the GOP chairman in Cincinnati’s Hamilton County.
