Graham flops in key states
Money race shows Dean bests Kerry in early primaries
By Sam Dealey
In key presidential primary states, Democratic contender Sen. Bob Graham (Fla.) has stumbled badly in the fundraising political derby while Howard Dean’s insurgent candidacy outpaced that of Sen. John Kerry (Mass.), an establishment favorite.
The figures for Dean, a former Vermont governor, and the others reflect campaign finance filings for the three-month period ended June 30.
Fundraising is an important indicator of a candidate’s strength, and the Democratic aspirants continued to rake in the big cash from donors in perennial cash cows such as California, Florida and New York. But an equally important vital sign for a presidential campaign is the candidate’s ability to raise funds in crucial early-voting and caucus states such as Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
Next year’s important early contests will come in rapid-fire succession. The Iowa caucuses are scheduled for Jan. 19, to be followed by New Hampshire’s primary Jan. 27. The South Carolina primary, along with those of several other states, will be held Feb. 3. A poor showing in these states — and in some instances an inability to win — could severely damage a candidate’s viability and even force him to withdraw.
Sen. John Edwards (N.C.) maintained a healthy lead in early primary states, pulling in over $93,000. Dean followed with $75,000, and Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.) with $51,000. Kerry and Rep. Dick Gephardt (Mo.) were near even, with $41,000 and $36,000 respectively. Graham fared the worst in these states, with just $1,750.
While Graham’s fundraising in Iowa and New Hampshire was never expected to be strong, his continued poor performance in South Carolina is likely to raise eyebrows. As with his first filing, the Floridian — one of just two Southerners vying for the Democratic nomination — reported raising no money in the Palmetto State last quarter. What’s more, Graham’s financial support in North Carolina also plummeted, from just $10,000 in the first quarter to $800, better only than former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun (Ill.).
The Graham campaign said these anemic fundraising totals reflected a nascent campaign organization rather than lack of support in these states.
“Primarily we’ve been focused on meeting with political leaders and trying to build a political organization in those states,” said Jamal Simmons, the campaign’s spokesman. Campaign finance reports show Graham’s financial support comes overwhelmingly from home-state donors. Almost 75 percent, or $1.23 million, of Graham donors were Floridians.
With the exception of Moseley Braun, who collected 44 percent of her funds from home-state donors, all other candidates claimed less than 20 percent of their fundraising totals from their home states. Simmons said the campaign had just signed Marvin Rosen, director of President Clinton’s 1996 campaign, as its financial guru, and expected out-of-state fundraising to increase.
In New Hampshire, where Dean and Kerry are locked in a bitter fight for their must-win state, the Vermonter collected $55,000 compared with Kerry’s $28,000. More significantly, Dean’s total reflected a sharp increase from the $39,000 he raised in the Granite State the previous quarter. Kerry’s total, meanwhile, was down from his first-quarter take of $35,000.
Edwards reported raising over $93,000 in the key states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, roughly $20,000 more than Dean, who placed second overall.
Largely Edwards’ lead was due to his prowess in South Carolina, which accounted for $70,000, or more than 75 percent of his early-state cash. That second quarter tally, however, was down by more than 60 percent from the $158,000 he raised in South Carolina in the first quarter. The decrease in donations, almost all of which came from individuals associated with law firms, suggest that the well of flush trial attorneys who support him in that state may be running dry.
Similarly, Edwards’ fundraising in his home state of North Carolina dropped sharply, from more than $927,000 in the first quarter to $265,000 last quarter. While other candidates also saw declines in home-state fundraising totals — Kerry and Gephardt both reported raising half of their first-quarter totals in their home states — none was as precipitous. Only Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Ohio), Moseley Braun and New York’s Al Sharpton were bested in their home states.
On the other end of the momentum spectrum, Lieberman and Gephardt showed strong increases in second-quarter fundraising across the early primary states. While Lieberman’s $16,000 still lagged considerably behind Kerry and Dean in New Hampshire — once considered his must-win state — the centrist Democrat placed a strong second in Iowa, with $13,000.
Gephardt, for whom winning Iowa is considered critical to his presidential ambitions, rebounded from his poor first-quarter showing in the state to lead the field. The Missourian reported raising $15,000 in Iowa, up considerably from his first-quarter total of $1,000.
Overall the candidates’ second quarter tallies nationwide were: Dean, $7.6 million; Kerry, $5.8 million; Lieberman, $5.1 million; Edwards, $4.5 million; Gephardt, $3.8 million; Graham, $2 million; Kucinich, $1.5 million; Moseley Braun, $145,000; Sharpton, $55,000. |
