Leading Tim Scott backer to co-host New York fundraiser for Nikki Haley

Eric Levine had been raising money for Scott, who dropped out of the GOP primary on Sunday. 

A top Tim Scott backer is co-hosting a high-end fundraiser for Nikki Haley, according to an invitation obtained by POLITICO on Monday — and sent less than 24 hours after Scott announced he was suspending his presidential campaign.

Eric Levine, a New York-based donor who was raising money for Scott, the South Carolina senator, is listed among the eight people hosting the Dec. 4 event in New York City for Haley, who has been on the upswing in the GOP primary.

Levine had told reporters he was stunned by Scott’s decision and would be backing Haley, the former governor of South Carolina.

The invitation also lists Campbell Brown, a former NBC anchor and CNN host. Brown is married to Dan Senor, a GOP strategist who works for hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer at Elliott Investment Management L.P.

Other hosts include Betsie and Bill Berrien, Annie Dickerson, Terry Kassel, Simone Levinson and Michael Santini. Dickerson has been closely affiliated with Singer, who has made known his antipathy toward the frontrunner in the primary, former President Donald Trump.

Haley is expected to attend the fundraiser for her Super PAC, Team Stand For America, according to the invitation. Couples are being asked to contribute up to $33,200 and individuals are being asked to give as much as $16,600.

Haley spent much of this year in the back of the Republican pack, but strong debate performances have helped her to challenge Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for the party’s top alternative to Trump, the overwhelming frontrunner in the primary. She has struggled to gain traction in Iowa, but is leading DeSantis in New Hampshire and South Carolina polls.