By Gregory Korte
Enquirer staff writer

Talk show host and former Cincinnati Mayor Jerry Springer speaks at the Teamsters conference downtown. The Enquirer/ERNEST COLEMAN

What does a delegate's seat at next week's Democratic National Convention cost? For Jerry Springer, it was at least $500,250.

That's the amount of money the former Cincinnati mayor and current purveyor of daytime television drivel has contributed to Democratic causes in recent years as he contemplated a political comeback.

The figure comes from an Enquirer examination of federal, state and city election reports since 1990, and includes $9,500 in contributions from his wife.

Ninety-five percent of Springer's contributions have come since 1999, when he first flirted with the idea of running for U.S. Senate against Mike DeWine.

Ohio House Minority Leader Chris Redfern, who led John Edwards' campaign in Ohio, cited Springer's support of Democrats in rewarding Springer with an at-large John Edwards delegate slot. Edwards will become the vice presidential nominee for Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry. That same support won Springer "Democrat of the Year" honors at the party's state dinner in May.

A definitive accounting of Springer's campaign contributions is difficult, because the Federal Elections Commission and state and county election officials all have different requirements.

Also, many contributions this year - especially for state candidates not on the ballot this year - have not yet been reported.

Springer, at home in Cincinnati to speak to the Ohio Conference of Teamsters on Wednesday, said he believes the half-million figure is conservative. He's given at least that in just the past year, he said.

Dale Butland, a Columbus political consultant who works for Springer, said it doesn't count the money he's helped the party to raise.

"Jerry's gone into places like Henry County and Wyandot County - places other politicians usually fly over - and speaks at these Jefferson-Jackson Day dinners. He draws three or four times the crowds they usually would, and he pays his own expenses," Butland said.

Springer said he prefers to give to local parties rather than candidates.

"That's how we rebuild the party. We need to find strong candidates. We haven't been in power for so long, we haven't had that statewide bench," Springer said.

"Let's say I run for governor," he said, after telling the Teamsters he would quit his talk show next year if he decided to run. "It could be pretty lonely up there in Columbus. It's more than about me. Ohio deserves to have two parties."

Springer's brand of fund raising is much different than top Republicans like Reds owner Carl Lindner, who can raise $1 million at a single event, or Cintas president Richard T. Farmer, who contributed $1.27 million to groups affiliated with the Republican National Committee in the six years before Congress banned so-called "soft money."

Even those with misgivings about Springer's role in Ohio politics acknowledge the impact he's had on local parties.

"My impression is he has been quite generous with the party as well as individual candidates," said U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, D-Ohio, who said he's also "actively exploring" a run for governor. "I know Jerry. I like Jerry. And I don't know of any public policy issue I would disagree with Jerry on."

Still, Strickland wishes Springer would keep a lower profile at next week's convention in Boston. "I'm not sure at this particular point in time that it's best for the Kerry campaign or the Ohio Democratic Party to have Jerry as the major spokesperson," the congressman said Wednesday.

Ohio's most famous delegate is scheduled to do a daily commentary for a Cleveland television station, make the rounds of cable talk shows, appear on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and call in to 700 WLW's Bill Cunningham.

"I'm going to be getting some attention. I realize that," Springer said. "But it's a good chance to speak up for Ohio. Ohio is important in this election, not just because it's so close it could decide the election. Ohio is important because Ohio is in trouble."

E-mail gkorte@enquirer.com