Boehner raising cash in Jackson Hole

Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and his leadership team are stumping for dollars with wealthy GOP donors at a Jackson Hole resort.

The Wyoming campaign swing is part of an effort to ensure Republican candidates are well-financed in the homestretch of a midterm election where Boehner hopes to expand the Republican majority in the House.

{mosads}He began Tuesday’s meeting by showing a slickly produced video of him raising money for 20 GOP candidates on a 14-state, 6,000-mile summer bus tour.

“We have members who need help,” Boehner says in the video. “But it’s also an opportunity to talk to an awful lot of Americans about what’s going on in our county.”

Boehner also highlighted the fact that Democrats have outraised Republicans this election cycle and urged donors to give more ahead of the November midterms.  

Wednesday marks the final day of his three-day visit to Jackson Hole, where Boehner and his top lieutenants have been rubbing elbows with about 150 top donors.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney welcomed the group to the posh Wyoming resort town Monday night, voicing concerns about the rise of Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria, and other hotspots around the world, aides said. Cheney also stressed the importance of the GOP keeping control of the House majority and taking back the Senate.

Politico first reported details of the trip.

Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) were among those on hand. Top committee chairmen also presented to the group. Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) and Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.) led a discussion on “Stopping the Terrorist Surge, Checking Putin,” while McCarthy and Scalise touched on the theme of “A Stronger Economy and a Brighter Future.”

Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), head of the House Republicans’ campaign arm, gave donors an update on the “Drive to 245” campaign — the GOP’s push to win 245 seats, a dozen more than they currently have.

“If anything, this event shows a unified leadership team in the House that has a plan for the fall and how to win it,” a GOP leadership aide said.

Boehner has already done campaign events for candidates Stewart Mills of Minnesota; Ryan Zinke of Montana; Rep. Sean Duffy of Wisconsin; Rep. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota; and Mike Bost, Darlene Senger, former Rep. Bobby Schilling and Rep. Rodney Davis, all of Illinois.