Clinton, Dole Tie In Nw Fund-Raising But Donations From Region Small Potatoes In Candidates’ National Fund-Raising Efforts

Pat Buchanan raised more money than Bob Dole from big Republican donors in Oregon the last half of last year, but President Clinton received more contributions than the two combined, federal records show.

In neighboring Washington state, Dole picked up the fund-raising pace to overcome an earlier advantage by Lamar Alexander. As of Dec. 31, the Senate majority leader from Kansas had raised more than Clinton in that state.

For the two states combined, the Democrat Clinton and the Republican Dole raised almost identical amounts in 1995 contributions from donors giving $200 or more - $95,890 for Clinton and $94,781 for Dole, according to documents filed at the Federal Election Commission.

In Oregon, Clinton led with $38,400, followed by Dole, $33,341; Pete Wilson, who since has dropped out, $19,000; and Buchanan, $18,398.

However, from July 1 through Dec. 31, Buchanan out-raised Dole, $14,698 to $13,816. Clinton raised $30,850 during that six-month period.

Steve Forbes raised just $1,000 in Oregon. Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, had raised $19,000 and Sen. Richard Lugar $5,750 when they dropped out.

The overall numbers are quite small compared to larger states where the campaigns have focused their fund-raising.

For example, Clinton and Dole each raised more than $2 million in New York last year, more than $400,000 in Michigan and more than $200,000 in North Carolina. In fact, only 14 states had given less to Clinton than Oregon did through Dec. 31.

“We have not really formalized a campaign for Mr. Clinton at this point,” said Margaret Carter, chairwoman of the Oregon Democratic Party.

“We just got over one Senate race and are back into another race. That’s where our attention and energies have been,” she said.

Clinton is expected to carry both Oregon and Washington, two states that helped him to the White House in 1992.

However, as of Dec. 31, Dole led Clinton in contributions of $200 or more in Washington state - $61,440 to $57,490.

“Republicans have had a tough time here in the past, but 1994 made Republicans nationwide take Washington more seriously than they have in a long time,” said Todd Myers, a spokesman for the Washington State GOP.

That’s when Washington’s U.S. House delegation switched from 8-1 Democrat, to 7-2 Republican as six Democratic incumbents were swept out of office, including former House Speaker Tom Foley, D-Wash.

“We now have seven Republican members of Congress, and a Republican (state) House and probably next year a Republican (state) Senate. We have an excellent chance of getting a Republican governor. This is going to be a battleground,” Myers said.