Livin' Large with the Blunt campaign

Thumbing through Roy Blunt's recently-filed Q1 campaign finance report, a number of interesting expenses stand out. First, Blunt spent some serious cash on food and liquor in Washington and Manhattan. And overall, some of the spending decisions just don't make sense for a campaign that should be trying to save money for things that actually win votes -- here are some of the more notable expenses:

The chartered airplane for the campaign kick-off:

• $14,548 to Central Missouri Aviation on March 4

Meals in Washington, DC:

• $2,425 at Ruth's Christ Steakhouse in Dupont Circle
• $1,359 at La Prima/Via Cucina in Downtown DC
• $1,073 at La Prima/Via Cucina in Downtown DC
• $472 at Wagners Liquor in Georgetown (conveniently down the street from Blunt homestead)
• $192 at The Caucus Room in Downtown DC
• $179 at Tenpenh in Downtown DC
• $163 at Martin's Tavern in Georgetown
• $127 at Gandels Liquors on Capitol Hill
• $66 at Teatro Goldini on K Street
• ....and many other smaller meals.

Meals in Manhattan:

• $445 at Waverly Restaurant on the Avenue of the Americas
• $290 at Il Mulino on West 3rd Street

Constituent gifts:

• $280 at the House Gift Shop in the Capitol
• $169 at Destination DC in Arlington, VA
• $135 at Destination DC in Arlington, VA
• $83.98 at Bed Bath & Beyond in Arlington, VA
• $41.18 at Dillards in Nashville, TN

And just bizarre spending choices:

• $401.76 at Restoration Hardware in Washington, DC for "sign materials"  (this upscale Georgetown shop is conveniently down the street from Blunt homestead)
• $707 for Internet domain name registrations (for 70 websites?)