The presence of five chiefs of staff to House Democratic leaders is a main attraction for an “after party” fundraiser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee tomorrow night, according to an invitation obtained by Party Time.

Headlining the event are the chiefs of staff to Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., Jim Himes, D-Conn., Richard Neal, D-Mass., John Carney, D-Del., and Steve Israel, D-N.Y., all leaders of the DCCC.

The participation of top aides in fundraisers has raised questions about the boundary between members’ campaigns and official staff, in light of the House Committee on Ethics decision in January to clear Crowley and two other lawmakers of any ethical violation around financial reform legislation. Crowley’s chief of staff, Kate Winkler — who is listed as a host tomorrow — was featured repeatedly in the report, sometimes receiving emails from lobbyists responding to fundraiser invitations.

Neither Winkler nor three of the other chiefs of staff — Jason Cole, Elizabeth Hart and Jack Pratt — were immediately available for comment. Ann Jablon, the top aide to Neal, wrote in an email that she would not attend because she will be busy taking care of her four children.

One lobbyist, who did not want his name published, said he was not bothered that the chiefs of staff are the main draw to the event.

“You don’t see them often on flyers, but they are such a central presence in fundraising phone calls and emails that it does not surprise or even bother me much. In many cases the [chief of staff] is at least as important a connect as the member herself or himself,” he wrote in an email.

He also wrote that the event, which asks donors for a mere $100 and features “The Peach Pit DJ Dance Party” at a Capitol Hill bar, is attempting to “inculcate [young Democrats] into the giving routine with the $100 price tag.”

“With staff instead of Member names on the invitation, it sounds more like a party that a rich kid would throw at home when his parents are in the Bahamas,” he wrote.

The after party follows a high roller “Spring PAC Reception” at Union Station, where, for $15,000, PACs can send four representatives to the event. Headlining the invitation are Assistant Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., and four of the top aides’ bosses, except for Israel. The after party RSVP form on the DCCC website asks donors to “please join the DCCC and House Democratic Staff for an after party event at Lounge 201.”

A press spokesman for the DCCC did not respond to a phone message.

In the January Ethics Committee report, the lawmakers were cleared in part because “none of the Members’ legislative staff had any role in planning any aspect for such events, other than the schedulers or chiefs of staff coordinating administrative scheduling issues regarding the Members’ availability.” [See the full report marked with notes here.]

The event comes at a particularly busy time of year for congressional fundraising. Members have planned at least 156 events this week, and no less than 57 today, according to Party Time’s files, which do not grab all of Washington’s invitations.

“I sense a volume of voice mails and emails more typical of last September than I would expect to see in spring of an odd-numbered year,” the lobbyist wrote.

He cited two immediate reasons for the uptick. First, campaigns are pressuring donors to send in checks before the end of the month, which marks the end of the first quarter. In addition, Congress is on recess all of next week, which means this week includes some of the final days for inside-the-beltway events. He expects a high volume of events again on the final three days of the month.

He also cited the “uncertainty-driven nervousness” associated with states’ redrawing congressional districts this year. Many states will lose at least one House seat in the next Congress.

“Everybody wants to get as much in the bank before they potentially get themselves redrawn into a district that will give them political fits, or that may pit one incumbent against another,” he wrote.

Delaware’s Former Lt. Governor John Carney (D-DE) is running  uncontested for the state’s lone House seat–and he is doing it with the political weight of the DCCC, a handful of lawmakers, and at least half a dozen well connected lobbyists behind him (see this invitation to a November 4 luncheon).

According to data from the Center for Responsive Politics, Carney had raised $427,000 by the end of the third quarter of this year. His only registered opponent in the primary so far, Scott Spencer, has reported nothing whatsoever, and no Republican opponent has announced yet.

The incumbent, Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE) announced last month that he would be running to fill the Senate seat vacated by Vice President Joe Biden, effectively clearing the way for Carney.

Carney announced his candidacy on tax day earlier this year and shortly thereafter received the endorsement of Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), the state’s senior Senator:

“He is the strongest Democratic congressional candidate that our state has seen in many years,” Carper said. “The breadth of his experience and knowledge of this state and many of the issues we face now make him more than qualified to be a United States congressman.”

Carper speaks from experience–Carney worked as his secretary of finance and as deputy chief of staff when Carper was Governor. In addition to his public endorsement, Carper may or may not be calling in a favor or two. Jonathon Jones,  his former chief of staff from 2001-2007, and now a lobbyist, is billed as one of the hosts on the November 4 luncheon invitation.

Jones isn’t the only former chief of staff turned lobbyist on the invitation though–John Michael Gonzalez, chief of staff to Rep. Melissa Bean (D-IL) from 2005-2009, is also listed as an event host (note that Bean is also mentioned on the invitation).

Other event hosts include lobbyist Sean Richardson, chief of staff to Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) from 2002-2006 and to Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in 2007; lobbyist Jeffrey Peck, former staff director of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1987-1992, lobbyist Tanya Lombard who worked as a Special Assistant to President Clinton, and finally Gwen Mellor who lobbies for Hogan & Hartson.

Carney’s inside support is already showing in his campaign receipts. His third top source of cash is leadership PACs.

To see clients for lobbyists hosting the event click on individuals’ names: Jeffrey Peck, Jonathon Jones, John Michael Gonzalez, Tanya Lombard, Sean Richardson, Gwen Mellor