Hans Tanzler to be ‘special guest’ at Conservative Outsider PAC fundraiser

The Conservative Outsider PAC is thus far relatively unknown in the 4th Congressional District race. Perhaps with good reason. It is based in Alexandria, Virginia. And in recent months, it spent $18,000 in support of a state senator … from Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The group’s local obscurity appears likely to change soon, as the committee will have a high-dollar fundraiser in Jacksonville July 20.

The event will feature “special guest speaker” Hans Tanzler, running in CD 4 and apparently leading the fundraising race in hard money.

Suggested contribution levels range from $5,000 to $25,000, and there is an extended disclaimer at the bottom of the Save the Date invite, which includes the proviso that “Hans Tanzler will appear at this event as our special guest speaker, but he is not requesting you to make a contribution to Conservative Outsider PAC.”

When asked if that was appropriate, elections attorney Mark Herron on Wednesday said it was.

“Candidates can coordinate fundraising activities and some other activities with a political committee,” Herron said via phone.

Brian Hughes, of the Florida-based “Conservatives United” PAC, noted the irony of the Conservative Outsider PAC being based in suburban Washington, D.C., in his comment.

“Nothing says ‘Conservative Outsider’ like a PAC run by D.C.-area political hacks with a recent history of supporting career politicians in Indiana,” Hughes said.

Tanzler’s fundraising operation has been energetic, and his poll numbers have increased as a result of his presence on television.

The most recent poll of the race, conducted by the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab, shows Tanzler behind only John Rutherford.

Though Rutherford has a 14-point lead (27 percent to 13 percent), Tanzler was down by 36 points as recently as late May.