Club for Growth to contact Specter donors

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- A conservative group says it will notify donors to U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., that they are eligible to receive refunds from the former Republican.

When he switched from the Republican to the Democratic Party this year, Specter vowed to give back any campaign donations to dissatisfied contributors. The Club for Growth, after winning a ruling last week from the Federal Elections Commission allowing it to do so, says it will now contact all of Specter's donors to let them know they can get their money back, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Tuesday.

The club's former head, Pat Toomey, was Specter's probable GOP challenger in next year's primary election had the senator stayed in the party, and is still running for the seat as a Republican.

Club for Growth Executive Director David Keating told the Post-Gazette he will spend about $3,500 on the mailing, with about 3,000 to 4,000 Specter donors expected to receive it.

FEC rules prohibit using campaign donations lists for commercial purposes, but it approved the club's use "to inform contributors that the senator has switched party affiliations and that his campaign will provide refunds upon request."