In the campaign’s final moments, they have stepped in to save one of their own. Part of it is that he’s their colleague, and that’s just what you do. Another part is that they are allowed to give a maximum donation to Cochran again in the runoff.

But the other part is that the last thing incumbents in Congress want is for potential tea party challengers to be emboldened by McDaniel’s success. And thus a fountain of funds rushes from leadership PACs everywhere to Cochran’s bank account.

On June 10, the National Republican Senatorial Committee held a fundraiser for Cochran — which was likely the origin for many of Cochran’s congressional donations.