Bush Campaign Sets Fund-Raising Record

By Jonathan D. Salant, Associated Press, July 1, 1999

WASHINGTON -- George W. Bush raised more than $36 million in the first half of 1999, shattering political fund-raising records and shocking the less fortunate field of Republican rivals chasing the surging front-runner.

The remarkable total, which caught Republican and Democratic operatives by surprise, is nearly 10 times as much as his closest Republican rival and twice as much as Vice President Al Gore, who has only one Democratic rival and the power of the White House political machine behind him.

Bush, who already holds an overwhelming lead in Republican polls, is almost certain to forgo federal matching money in the primary season, aides said yesterday. The historic step would put him at a great advantage in the Republican primary season and potentially help him if he wins the nomination.

"I am humbled by the response," Bush said. "I am, as you can imagine, amazed at the outpouring of support. This is a campaign that has got a wide range of people who are willing to help people from all around the country. I'm gratified and that's that."

Bush, appearing somewhat overwhelmed by the reports, was asked how he explained the record fund-raising. "A wonderful personality," he replied. "Seriously, that's what the pundits are going to have to figure out. I've got a lot of friends."

The Bush campaign said it had raised $28.3 million in the second quarter of 1999, bringing its fund-raising total for the first half of the year to $36,250,000. That surpasses the $32 million that the 1996 GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole raised for his entire campaign. Bush did it in less than four months.

He received contributions from more than 75,000 individuals, about 30 percent of them in Texas, with an average donation of $480.

"All the support of Bush reflects a deep desire on the part of many Republicans to get a candidate they think is viable and able to win," said Herbert Alexander, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Southern California.

"What Bush does by raising this money is squeeze out these other candidates, who now will find it difficult to find contributors," Alexander said.

Bush leads the other Republican candidates in the polls and has more money than the rest of the GOP field combined. The closest GOP rival to Bush, Senator John McCain of Arizona, raised just $4 million.

Gore reported raising $18.2 million to $18.5 during the first half of 1999. Asked about Bush's fund-raising, he said yesterday, "I am grateful to those who have helped me."

"Republicans will always do better than Democrats" in raising money, he said, citing the 1996 presidential race, when Republicans took in more money than Democrats, "but our ideas and policies had more support from the American people. And that will be the case again this time."

Gore's only rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, Bill Bradley, the former US senator from New Jersey, reported raising more than $11.5 million, closing the gap a bit on Gore.