“Through Huddles With Donors, Discreet Meetings With Fellow Operatives And The Occasional Public Event,” AFP And Other Groups “Maintained A Subtle But Pervasive Presence In Tampa” During The RNC. According to the Orlando Sentinel, “His meetings this week are just one example of how operatives of top-tier conservative groups are capitalizing on the convention revelry to quietly lay the groundwork for the final months of the campaign. Barred from direct coordination with political campaigns, super PACs and GOP-aligned nonprofit groups have no official role in the proceedings. But through huddles with donors, discreet meetings with fellow operatives and the occasional public event, the groups have maintained a subtle but pervasive presence in Tampa. On Tuesday, strategists from Crossroads, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Americans for Prosperity — three groups that have employed their abundant war chests to become the center of gravity in this election — gathered at a hotel blocks from the convention site to share political intelligence.” [Orlando Sentinel, 8/30/12]

AFP, Crossroads, And The US Chamber Of Commerce Met During The Convention “To Share Political Intelligence” And “Quietly Lay The Groundwork For The Final Months” Of The 2012 Presidential Campaign. According to the Orlando Sentinel, “His meetings this week are just one example of how operatives of top-tier conservative groups are capitalizing on the convention revelry to quietly lay the groundwork for the final months of the campaign. Barred from direct coordination with political campaigns, super PACs and GOP-aligned nonprofit groups have no official role in the proceedings. But through huddles with donors, discreet meetings with fellow operatives and the occasional public event, the groups have maintained a subtle but pervasive presence in Tampa. On Tuesday, strategists from Crossroads, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Americans for Prosperity — three groups that have employed their abundant war chests to become the center of gravity in this election — gathered at a hotel blocks from the convention site to share political intelligence.” [Orlando Sentinel, 8/30/12]

David Koch And Sheldon Adelson Were In Tampa During The Convention; Adelson Attended A Meeting With AFP, Crossroads, And The US Chamber Of Commerce. According to the Orlando Sentinel, “Among the mega-donors in Tampa are Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and energy executive David Koch. Together, they have committed tens of millions to Republican causes this election season. Adelson participated in the Tuesday confab between Crossroads, the Chamber and Americans for Prosperity, according to a source with knowledge of the meeting. The discussion, which was first reported by the Huffington Post, consisted of sharing polling data and focus group results.” [Orlando Sentinel, 8/30/12]

David Koch And Art Pope Attended A Celebration Of Their Work – “A Salute To Entrepreneurs.” According to the Tampa Bay Times, “A Salute to Entrepreneurs: One of the most anticipated hobnob gatherings of the week, this celebration of billionaire industrialist David Koch, one of the founding benefactors of Americans for Prosperity, and Art Pope, AFP’s chairman, will be at 4 p.m. at CAMLS, 124 S Franklin St., in Tampa. Go to tampareception.eventbrite.com for invite.” [Tampa Bay Times, 8/30/12]

David Koch Argued That “The U.S. Debt Service Could Become Unaffordable” At An AFP Event In Tampa. According to the Tampa Tribune, “Grass-roots movements must spread the message about U.S. fiscal problems and solutions, Kansas billionaire and conservative activist David Koch told an audience of 350 people at an Americans For Prosperity rally Thursday. Koch spoke briefly and quietly during the session at the University of South Florida’s CAMLS building in downtown Tampa before turning the podium over to a handful of speakers with similar, louder messages. Koch eschewed direct criticism of President Obama in measured remarks that stuck to his premise: Government spending has spiraled out of control, which could put the nation in jeopardy. ‘The U.S. debt service could become unaffordable,’ Koch said, urging Americans For Prosperity members to continue their lobbying and informational efforts for conservative fiscal causes.” [Tampa Tribune, 8/31/12]

The AFP Event Was Attended By “Elected Officials From Maryland To Arizona.” According to the Tampa Tribune, “Thursday’s Americans For Prosperity gathering drew people from across the country, including elected officials from Maryland to Arizona.” [Tampa Tribune, 8/31/12]