Evansville fundraiser for Romney raises $1 million

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - A southern Indiana fundraiser for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney raised more than $1 million, said the businessman who organized it.

Steven Chancellor told the Evansville Courier-Press that about 300 people attended the Aug. 4 fundraiser at his northwestern Vanderburgh County home, with tickets costing a minimum of $2,500 a person.

"That was good, particularly for a market this small," Chancellor said. "I think we had people representing 19 different states there."

Romney spent about two hours at the fundraiser, Chancellor said. Romney also spoke that day with dozens of supporters gathered at Stepto's BBQ Shack in Evansville.

Chancellor, a former owner of Evansville-based Black Beauty Coal and now chief executive officer of the lobbying firm American Patriot Group, has hosted fundraisers previously. A January 2004 Republican National Committee event at his residence generated about $500,000. Guests at that event included former President George H.W. Bush, former Vice President Dan Quayle and retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf.

A similar GOP event he held in July 2000 generated more than $1.4 million.

Chancellor said he was not involved in arranging a scheduled Nov. 5 visit to Evansville by Dinesh D'Souza, producer of the documentary film "2016: Obama's America." But he said such appearances and his fundraisers are helping put Evansville on the national political map.

D'Souza will speak at the Vanderburgh County Republican Party's Reagan Day Dinner the day before Election Day.

President Barack Obama narrowly won Indiana four years ago, becoming the first Democrat to carry the state in more than 40 years.