Greg Steube going to Tampa to raise money

Florida House District 67 does not include the city of Tampa, but that's not stopping Greg Steube from heading to the Cigar City tonight to try to pad his fund-raising lead just before he has to file his next set of campaign finance reports.

Tampa beer distributor Tom Pepin and a quartet of political heavyweights - state Reps. Bill Galvano and Ron Reagan; state Sen. Mike Bennett; and Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee - are hosting a fund-raising reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Icons Restaurant at St. Pete Times Forum.

The term-limited Reagan and the others have already endorsed Steube in his 2010 bid to succeed Reagan in the Florida House, even though so far, there are three other candidates vying for the Republican nomination. Along with the endorsements, Steube has been busy collecting campaign cash; last week, Bennett hosted a fund-raiser for Steube at his Bradenton home.

In the first three months of this year, Steube collected more than $61,000 in contributions. The next largest amounts collected by District 67 candidates were Robert McCann's $31,000 and Jeremiah J. Guccione's $20,000. Guccione, though closed the gap, by loaning $50,000 to his campaign. (The fourth candidate in the race, Marie Nisco, has not reported any fund-raising activity.)

The second-quarter reporting period ends Tuesday.