Sunday, February 28, 1999
Large donations fuel wins
Legislators rely less on small gifts
BY PAUL BARTON
Enquirer Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — Large individual contributors and special interests provided the fuel for winning local congres sional campaigns in 1998.
An analysis done by the Center for Responsive Politics for The Cincinnati Enquirer shows that only Rep. Ted Strickland, D-Lucasville, got the majority of his individual contributions from small donors, those who gave $200 or less.
But Mr. Strickland was also most dependent on donations from political action committees.
The source of money in political campaigns is a perennial issue because it raises questions about who gets access to candidates and exerts influence over them.
Mr. Strickland, who repre sents the economically depressed 6th Congressional District, got 69 percent of his $328,247 in individual contributions from people writing small checks. Eleven percent of his contributions came from $1,000 checks.
In contrast, Ken Lucas, D-Richwood, Ky., got 16 percent of his $530,859 in individual contributions from people giving $200 or less. Mr. Lucas got 43.5 percent from people giving $1,000.
Small contributions, as a percentage of individual contributions, for other area members last year:
• Rep. John Boehner, R-West Chester, 38 percent of $636,741.
• Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., 23.7 percent of $2.062 million.
• Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Cincinnati, 27.5 percent of $774,123.
• Rep. Baron Hill, D-Sey mour, Ind., 28.5 percent of $546,555.
• Rep. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park, 30 percent of $436,674.
• Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, 20 percent of $4.24 million.
Sens. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., did not have races last year.
Members insist that the $5 contributor is just as important to them as the $1,000 contributor.
“Everyone has a voice, whether they contribute to Mr. Boehner's campaign or not,” said Boehner aide Dave Schnittger.
Mr. Chabot added of the small contributors: “In my campaign, they are very important. Those folks who contribute at those levels tend to be the folks who volunteer their time.”
Mr. Portman said the issue is even more critical to him because he doesn't accept special interest political action committee (PAC) money.
“When you don't take PACs, getting a lot of individuals to give is important,” he said.
When it came to PAC money last year, Mr. Strickland was the most dependent on it, receiving $570,349 of his total $1.059 million raised from PACs, an amount equaling 53.8 percent.
Mr. Strickland was strongly supported by labor and ideological single-issue PACs as he won a second term.
PAC percentages for other area candidates were:
• Mr. Boehner: $589,821 of $1.23 million raised, 47.8 percent.
• Mr. Bunning: $1.36 million of $3.59 million raised, 37.9 percent.
• Mr. Chabot: $743,247 of $1.55 million raised, 47.8 percent.
• Mr. Hill: $94,833 of $1.01 million raised, 38.7 percent.
• Mr. Lucas: $401,730 of $1.07 million raised, 37.5 percent.
• Mr. Voinovich: $1.37 million of $7.78 million raised, 17 percent.
Although the 106th Congress has barely begun, area incumbents are already bracing for the financial demands of their year 2000 races.
Mr. Chabot, for instance, said he is expecting Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, to come to Cincinnati in April for his first major fund-raising event.
Mr. Chabot and Mr. Hyde served together as House managers in the recent impeachment trial of President Clinton.
“You have to be aware of it,” Mr. Chabot said of the constant need for campaign money.
“It is the part of politics I like the least, but it is necessary.”
The center is a Washington research organization that specializes in tracking campaign dollars.
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