Dana Point, Calif.– Several of the GOP’s top donors have convened at a beachfront resort here at the behest of Charles and David Koch and the Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, their umbrella group. Over the next two days, the crowd here will hear from Republican presidential candidates Carly Fiorina and Scott Walker (today) and Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and Jeb Bush (tomorrow).
Rand Paul, who attended the winter conference but underwhelmed donors in part with his casual demeanor and dress — he wore blue jeans — declined an invitation to join the group this time. And one top official in Koch world made a point of telling me that Chris Christie wasn’t invited because the powers that be in Koch world think he has a crummy fiscal record in New Jersey.
Politico’s Mike Allen will moderate 25-minute question and answer sessions with each of the five candidates. I’ll report on those, as well as Charles Koch’s remarks to his guests, and a broader panel of lawmakers joining the group including representative Jim Jordan and senators Mike Lee, Ben Sasse, Cory Gardner, and Dan Sullivan.