In this Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012 photo, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., left sits with Sens. Mary Landrieu, D-La., center, and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H during a campaign event for Democratic Senate candidate Chris Murphy in Hartford. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
Organizers of a Connecticut fundraiser for two female Democratic U.S. senators from “red-leaning” states who supported stricter gun laws after the Newtown massacre pulled the plug on the event early this month, citing the government shutdown.
But less than a week before the Oct. 6 reception for Louisiana’s Mary Landrieu and New Hampshire’s Jeanne Shaheen organizers were offering comp tickets to the event in Westport, according to emails obtained by Hearst Connecticut Newspapers.
One Democratic insider on the invite list characterized the practice of liberally comping tickets as highly unusual and suggested that organizers might have had a difficult time filling spots at the event.
An invitation to the fundraiser listed Connecticut Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Christopher Murphy as the event’s hosts. Shaheen and Landrieu campaigned for Murphy for Senate in 2012.
The price points for contributions ranged from $10,400 to be an event chair to $100 individual admission.