WASHINGTON By Fredreka Schouten, USA Today)
August 16, 2007 — Democrats seeking the White House have
received more than four times as much money from some of the
nation's wealthiest enclaves as party contenders did in 2003, an
analysis of campaign-finance records shows.
The major Democratic presidential candidates have
raised nearly $32 million from the 50 ZIP codes that were the top
sources of campaign money in the first six months of the year, the
non-profit Center for Responsive Politics found. In contrast,
Republicans received $13.8 million.
The analysis for USA TODAY
shows Democrats raised the most money in 43 of the 50 postal codes.
New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is the top recipient in 28
areas.
In the first half of 2003, John Kerry, Howard Dean
and other Democrats who ran for president raised about $7.7 million
from the top 50 donor ZIP codes. President Bush, who did not
actively raise money until May of that year, collected nearly $6
million in that period.
The trend in giving from such
upscale areas as Greenwich, Conn., is another sign of the financial
advantage for the 2008 election enjoyed by Democrats, who have out
raised their Republican counterparts by nearly $60 million.
"There's a lot of pent-up demand by Democrats to
win back the White House," said John Green, a political scientist at
the University of Akron in Ohio.
Because fewer than 1% of all Americans donate to
presidential campaigns, the contributions from small neighborhoods
also highlight the influence that a tiny fraction of people will
have on the contest.
"In some ways, this 2008 primary season won't be
decided in the heartland or the swing states, but in Upper East Side
apartments, Beverly Hills mansions and Palm Beach villas," center
spokesman Massie Ritsch said. The analysis also found:
• Donors living in New York's 10021 ZIP code rank
first, providing more than $4.5 million. That's up from $1.2 million
in the first six months of 2003, when the area also was the top
source of presidential money.
Clinton received the most, $1.4 million, followed
by former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, a Republican, with
$941,000.
Investment banker Jewelle Bickford, who gave
$4,600 to the former first lady, said Clinton's Senate and White
House experience make her the best candidate to cope with the Iraq
war: "My support for her is totally pragmatic."
• Areas trying to boost native sons have emerged
as top money sources. Donations to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama made
Chicago's Gold Coast area No. 17 on the list. The 60610 ZIP code
didn't make the list in 2003.
Neither did Paradise Valley, Ariz., where Arizona
Sen. John McCain was its top recipient with $275,000.
"It takes more money to run for president," said
developer John Graham, who donated $4,600 to McCain. "Everyone has
ratcheted up their efforts to help."
• Three of the seven ZIP codes where Republicans
have raised the most money are in Texas. Giuliani, a partner in a
Houston-based law firm, was the leading recipient in all three.
• Some
areas with close ties to Bush are no longer top sources of
donations. Among them: North Dallas, where Bush lived before he was
elected governor of Texas.
