Markell helps bankroll Denn's Attorney General bid

Even if Matt Denn doesn't have any competitors in his race for attorney general, he'll still have plenty of money for his campaign account. Gov. Jack Markell is headlining a fundraiser next week for Denn at the Greenville home of one of the state's top Democratic donors, with a goal to raise $100,000.

The cash-for-Denn cocktail reception is scheduled for 6 p.m. on May 21 at the home of Wilmington lawyer Stuart Grant. The minimum contribution is $500; suggested is the maximum of $1,200. Grant is the same lawyer who helped bankroll both of Markell's bids for governor, Beau Biden's attorney general campaign account and bundled donations for President Obama in 2012.

Hosts next week include developer Chris Buccini, Wilmington lawyer and former Delaware Department of Justice chief deputy Bart Dalton,Lisa Goodman, the lawyer and president of Equality Delaware, and many others. It's the same crowd that gathered in March to help raise money for U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, the Louisiana Democrat facing a difficult re-election bid.

Denn, who had almost $94,000 in his campaign account at the end of last year, currently has no competition in his bid to become Delaware's next attorney general, with Beau Biden forgoing a third term. State Prosecutor Kathy Jennings considered a run, but dropped out with Democratic support rallying around the second-term lieutenant governor.

Last week, Republican Colm Connolly, the former U.S. Attorney, also decided against a campaign despite efforts to persuade him to run from state party officials and former Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Castle.

Contact Jonathan Starkey at 983-6756, on Twitter @jwstarkey or at jstarkey@delawarweonline.com.