Does billionaire Foster Friess have a back-up plan if Rick Santorum’s campaign fizzles before the presidential race heats up?
Friess helped keep the former Pennsylvania senator’s 2012 presidential candidacy financially afloat when his campaign appeared doomed. Santorum went on to win 11 states during the GOP primary, but he has floundered thus far on the campaign trail this year.
Friess sent an email on Thursday notifying recipients of upcoming events in Wyoming featuring presidential candidates Ben Carson and Sen. Ted Cruz.
Friess and his wife, Lynnette, each contributed the maximum amount to Santorum’s 2016 presidential campaign earlier this summer, but Friess has made plans to attend a fundraiser for Carson in Wyoming next week.
“He’s definitely coming,” said Mike Marshall, who is hosting the fundraiser for Carson in his Wyoming home. “Foster and Lynne will be here, they know of Ben and Candy Carson very well and so they’re definitely going to be here. And we’ve actually heard from some other people that found out about it through Foster. It may be a little sensitive by the way for Foster as far as publicity because he is officially supporting Rick Santorum.”
Marshall, the chairman of an Atlanta-based family real estate business named Georgia Capital, said he expected the “intimate gathering” in his home for Dr. Carson would include approximately 100 guests. It is an invitation-only event that requires a $500 contribution from individuals, and $1,000 per couple.
Friess did not respond to a request for comment, but his assistant, Judy Jost, said via email that Friess’ email simply intended to make people aware of the upcoming events in case they had any interest in attending. He would not host the fundraisers for Cruz or Carson.
Friess’ email highlighted Cruz’s visit to Wyoming next week, but Jost said Friess would be unable to attend Cruz’s event. She said he would attend the Carson event.
The email from Friess also mentioned an event this week featuring Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, an incumbent running for re-election in 2016, former Vice President Dick Cheney and GOP Chairman Reince Priebus.
Asked about the reception for Cruz that Friess had flagged, Rick Tyler, Cruz’s spokesman said, “I know that he’s [Cruz] doing a fundraiser in Wyoming and I know that Foster Friess is from Wyoming, but I don’t know what the, I can’t confirm that right now.”
He followed up via email to explain that the Wyoming GOP would host the event Cruz planned to attend next week.
Friess has not publicly given any indication that he would consider supporting any presidential candidate besides Santorum. On Fox Business Network earlier this week, Friess explained his reasoning for backing Santorum.
“A leader is a person who can take people where they need to be, but don’t want to be. I believe Rick has demonstrated that,” Friess told Fox Business Network. “He sticks to his principles. … While some people don’t agree with him, they really respect and honor him for the fact that he’s a man of conviction. He loves America and he wants the best for America.”
Santorum’s campaign has not responded to the Washington Examiner‘s requests for comment on this story.
