WASHINGTON — The Tristate remains the leading source of political contributions in Ohio with wealthy, heavily Republican neighborhoods in and around Cincinnati being among the most generous.

        Donors from the region have given $8.7 million to federal campaigns during the 2000 election cycle, well ahead of Cleveland at $6.9 million and Columbus at $6.5 million.

        Three Cincinnati ZIP codes — Kenwood-Madeira-Indian Hill, downtown-Eden Park-Walnut Hills and Hyde Park-Mount Lookout — accounted for more than half, $4.7 million, of the total.

        The Center for Responsive Politics, a public-policy group that specializes in campaign finance, analyzed Federal Election Commission data released electroni cally Oct. 1. A previous analysis from the center during the summer also found that Greater Cincinnati led the state in political giving.

        In all, Ohio contributed $33 million this cycle, which is ninth among states. More than 77 percent of the Ohio money, $25 million, went to Republicans. Kentucky has given $11 million, 23rd among states. More than 64 percent of Kentucky contributions went to Republicans.

        The totals are based on contributions of more than $200 from individuals to federal candidates, PACs and parties. Also included are “soft money” contributions of more than $200 to the national parties from individuals, PACs, corporations, labor unions or other organizations in the state.

        Although campaign-finance reform has been an issue during the presidential and congressional campaigns, fund-raising records have been smashed as both parties have a realistic chance of taking the White House and Congress.

        Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the Republican presidential nominee, has raised a record $177 million, according to the center, with more than $2 million from Ohio and $800,500 from Greater Cincinnati. The region is the 18th-best fund-raising spot in the country for the Texas governor.

        Vice President Al Gore, the Democratic presidential nominee, has collected $126 million, with $457,200 from Ohio and $99,150 from Greater Cincinnati, which is the 50th-best market for Mr. Gore.

        “It's hard to imagine what the environment would have to be like for Congress not to consider reform,” said Larry Makinson, the center's executive director. “There is no need to break the law. Every dodge in the book has already been invented.”

        But Robert Mutch, who has written a history of campaign finance, said previous attempts at reform largely have failed because of a preoccupation with chilling the influence of wealth on politics.

        The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that politicians, interest groups and political parties can spend unlimited amounts of money on certain types of political communication, although it has upheld limits on direct contributions to candidates.

        On Tuesday, the court agreed to review a Colorado case on whether a political party can spend as much as it wants on coordinated activities with candidates.

        “In almost every case, (reformers) have wanted to curb the power of wealth,” Mr. Mutch said. “It hasn't worked.”

        The FEC, which calculated fund raising between January 1999 and June 30, found that Republican committees had raised $245.7 million, a 27 percent increase from the 1998 election cycle but only 1 percent better than the 1996 cycle, the previous presidential election year.

        Democratic committees had pooled $143.6 million, a 33 percent increase from 1998 but a 2 percent drop from 1996.

        Both parties have gathered record amounts of “soft money,” unlimited contributions from individuals or corporations for party-building activities.

        According to the FEC, Republicans had raised $130.2 million, an 81 percent increase from 1998, while Democrats had raised $124.2 million, a 134 percent bump from 1998.

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