More About Allen West

Spencer blogged about Florida congressional candidate Allen West’s eye-popping statement on the Ft. Hood tragedy; I spoke to West for a story about black Republicans running for Congress in 2010. West is well liked and well known in the Tea Party movement, and described himself, to me, as the “worst nightmare” of black liberals in Congress.

Who’s backing West? He has received $5,000 from the notorious National Republican Trust PAC, the PAC that ran the only national ads about Jeremiah Wright in 2008, and the one that’s run grueling negative ads in the NY-20 and NY-23 special elections. He’s gotten $1,500 from the Freedom’s Defense Fund and another $1,500 from Veterans for Victory. Other donors: Radio host Tammy Bruce ($1,000) and former Bush economic adviser Larry Lindsey ($250).

So don’t make the assumption that West is some fringe candidate with no chance. He’s also on the NRCC’s “Young Guns” list.