By Eric Roper
In politics, it never hurts to return the favor.
Sen. Al Franken will travel to Cambridge, Mass., next month to speak at a fundraiser for Massachusetts state treasurer candidate Steve Grossman, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Grossman, now the president of Grossman Marketing Group, helped fundraise for Franken prior to and during his Senate campaign.
The event on Nov. 1 will mark the first time Franken has spoken at a fundraiser for a non-imcumbent political candidate since taking office, his office confirmed.
Grossman said in an interview that he has known the senator since the late 1990s but began fundraising for him in early 2006 when Franken requested his help. Grossman raised money for Franken's PAC and later his campaign, mostly by hosting events in the Boston area.
In mid-July 2009, the two saw each other at an event on Martha's Vineyard and Franken, learning of Grossman's bid for state treasurer, told him, "Let me know what I can do. I want to help you in any way I can," Grossman recalled.
"It's obviously a big deal when you're running for treasurer in Massachusetts in the middle of a Senate race to replace Ted Kennedy – although nobody will replace Ted Kennedy – and all of a sudden in the middle of that somebody of Al Franken's stature … decides to come to Boston for you," Grossman said. "It's a distinct asset and I'm very proud that he's coming."
