U.S. Sen. Richard Burr's leadership PAC gave $308,500 to federal candidates last year.

The Next Century Fund, a political action committee affiliated with the Winston-Salem Republican, contributed $212,500 to 25 Senate candidates and $96,000 to 39 House candidates, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. All were Republican.

Several were from North Carolina. Burr gave $5,000 apiece to former Sen. Elizabeth Dole, former Rep. Robin Hayes, Rep. Patrick McHenry and Rep. Sue Myrick.

He also gave $1,000 to Augustus Cho, who ran unsuccessfully for the GOP nomination to face Democratic Rep. David Price.

Nationally, Burr's PAC lent a hand to GOP candidates in competitive races, including Sens. John McCain, Norm Coleman and Ted Stevens.

In all, the PAC spent $627,704, including donations to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the N.C. Republican Party, fundraising and travel expenses and rent.

It ended the year with $126,202 in cash on hand.

Forget the mall. U.S. Sen. Richard Burr is offering a year-end closeout sale.

According to the Washington Babylon blog on Harper's magazine's Web site, the Winston-Salem Republican recently sent a letter on behalf of his Next Century Fund Leadership PAC offering a December promo:

Contributors of $5,000 get a "max-out package" that entitles them to take part in two trips next year with Burr and other party luminaries. They can pick from among three possible affairs: a May "Golf Outing" to Gainesville, Virginia's famous Robert Trent Jones course; a "Friends & Family" trip that same month to North Carolina's Outer Banks; or a fall golf event at Pinehurst in North Carolina.

Donors will also be invited to two parties in Washington, D.C.