ARIZONANS DIG DEEPEST FOR MCCAIN’S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
By SONU MUNSHI
Cronkite News Service
PHOENIX (Wednesday, Oct. 24) _ Arizonans have contributed about $5.5 million so far to presidential campaigns, giving the biggest boost _ $2.4 million _ to home state candidate Republican Sen. John McCain.
Republican Mitt Romney was second in Arizona with $1.2 million, and U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York led Democrats with $600,000, according to Federal Election Commission reports tracking contributions through Sept. 30.
Arizona ranked 15th among all 50 states and the District of Columbia in contributions to presidential campaigns.
McCain’s fundraising edge in Arizona wasn’t a concern for his rivals’ campaigns.
“It would be very surprising if McCain didn’t do well in Arizona,” said Jarrod Agen, a spokesman for Rudy Giuliani’s national campaign.
So far, McCain’s overwhelming fundraising advantage here hasn’t translated into a clear lead.
This month’s Cronkite/Eight Poll found that four out of five Republican voters in Arizona hadn’t decided whom to vote for. Of those with a preference, 29 percent favored McCain, 25 percent Romney, 19 percent Giuliani and 17 percent former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee.
McCain trails in fundraising nationally, raising $31.4 million to date compared to $61.6 million for Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, and $46.7 million for Giuliani, the former New York City mayor.
The latest reports, covering the third quarter, show contributions slowing as the year has progressed. Arizonans contributed about $1.2 million in the third quarter, $1.9 million in the second quarter and $2.4 million in the first quarter.
McCain, for example, raised $347,000 in the third quarter, $765,000 in the second and $1.25 million in the first.
Alex Burgos, a spokesman for Romney’s national campaign, said that the summer months tend to be slow for fundraising, so the thin results aren’t surprising.
“We spent more time meeting voters and shaking hands with them at county fairs and parades,” Burgos said.
Burgos said Romney’s campaign is pleased with its fundraising efforts here.
“Arizona is an important part of our strategy to win, and we’ll continue to actively campaign there,” Burgos said.
Sean McCaffrey, executive director of the Arizona Republican Party, said that both McCain’s and Romney’s message of small government and tax cuts attracts grassroots support and large donors.
Giuliani had raised about $400,000 so far, $103,000 of it in the third quarter. Agen, his campaign spokesman, said he was pleased with that result.
Clinton, who had raised $89 million nationally against $79.4 million by U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, had a fundraising edge over her Democratic rivals in Arizona. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson had raised $263,000, Obama $246,000 and former U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina $187,000.
National campaign spokesman Isaac Baker said Clinton’s team is excited about what he called strong grassroots support in the state.
“Arizonans know that Hillary has the strength and experience to deliver the change America needs,” Baker said.
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Web Links:
_Federal Election Commission: www.fec.gov