Ill. Dem Senate candidate solicits fed prosecutors with "suggested minimum" donation

There's nothing harder in sales than a cold call. Which is why David Hoffman, a decided to go after people he knows, as the Chicago Tribune's Clout Street blog reports:

A former federal prosecutor running for U.S. Senate is holding a fundraiser next week where he's asking current prosecutors for a "suggested minimum" political donation of $150.

The fundraiser for Democrat David Hoffman is scheduled for Nov. 3 at The Berghoff, the traditional spot of going-away parties for prosecutors that's around the corner from their Dearborn Street offices.

Campaign spokesman Thom Karmik said Hoffman was reaching out to as many people as possible for support. He said the mailing was not sent to current assistant U.S. attorneys, but the campaign expects that former prosecutors and others will make them aware of the event.

The Hoffman campaign is seeking contributions of $250 from "friends" and up to $2,400 from "sponsors"—the maximum amount an individual can give a candidate in a federal primary, according to campaign literature for the event. You can read the invitation by clicking here: Download Hoffmanfundraiser

Although there is nothing illegal going on here, this fundraiser is rich with irony. Hoffman's campaign is soliciting federal employees who work for the office that is prosecuting disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich. The hair-brained one is accused of attempting to sell the very Senate seat Hoffman is seeking.

This is so Illinois.

As for raising money without cold calling, my suggestion to Hoffman is to hit-up friends, relatives, drinking buddies, and to thumb through his high school yearbook.

Technorati tags: Illinois illinois politics Democrats corruption crime Blagojevich Senate ethics law legal