Update: Stivers supporters inform me that Steve will leave his event early to spend time with Sarah Palin.

Watch Out, Mary Jo Kilroy

As I tweeted two days ago, the media is picking up on Steve Stivers’ Fundraiser with the Governator:

From Aaron Blake in The Hill:

Ohio GOP House candidate Steve Stivers will hold a fundraiser with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) next week, Stivers’s campaign tells The Ballot Box.

Stivers and Schwarzenegger will team up to raise money on March 5, in an event that will also benefit the state GOP.

Schwarzenegger visits the Columbus area annually for his yearly Arnold Sports Festival. The city is a former home to the Mr. Olympia bodybuilding contest, where Schwarzenegger made his name by winning six straight titles and then served as a promoter.

“He’s very popular in Columbus and has been forever,” Stivers spokesman John Damschroder said. “Columbus loves what he has done for the community, and he’s heavily invested in the area. He’s been very loyal in keeping things in Columbus even as he’s become a big star.”

But as James Nash reports, the fundraiser is going while the Republican Party conservative superstar Sarah Palin hosts an event for the Ohio Right to Life:

Palin is headlining a fundraiser for Ohio Right to Life the same Friday evening.

Stivers has been courting support from social conservatives during his second run for Congress against Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy, who narrowly beat him in 2008.

Ohio Right to Life, which has not endorsed Stivers, declined to comment on his choice of events next Friday.

But the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee had plenty to say about it.

“It will upset (social conservatives) that he’s doing a competing event with another governor,” said Gabby Adler, spokeswoman for the Democratic group.

In addition to social conservatives, Arnold is also rather dismissive of the fiscally conservative TEA partiers and commented on ABC News that the movement “isn’t going anywhere.”:

Not sure if that is the type of politician Stivers wants to associate himself with, but he will need the money to defeat Mary Jo Kilroy and the deep pockets of shadowy Soros-funded groups. Kilroy, according to the National Journal, is the most liberal Congresscritter in Ohio.

If you want to see Sarah Palin, you might still be able to get a ticket here for $40. Otherwise, if you would rather spend $2400 for a picture with Schwarzenegger, click here.