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Big-money Bush supporters help Portman bank millions for Senate race

On the Democratic side of Senate race, Brunner trails Fisher in fundraising.

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By Jessica Wehrman, Staff Writer 11:24 PM Saturday, July 25, 2009

WASHINGTON — It seems that all that’s missing in Republican Rob Portman’s donor list is a couple of Reagans.

But then again, it’s early in the campaign.

After all, both Bush administrations are represented in Portman’s most recent report with the Federal Elections Commission: Former President George H.W. Bush, former first lady Barbara Bush, and former vice president Dan Quayle from the elder Bush’s administration have given money to Portman’s Senate bid. So have White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and vice president Dick Cheney’s daughter Mary from President George W. Bush’s administration.

There are plenty of big Republican fundraisers on the list too. President George W. Bush during his two presidential campaigns solicited volunteers he called Pioneers, who vowed to raise at least $100,000 for his campaign; and Rangers, who vowed to raise at least $200,000. Portman, a former Bush trade representative and budget director, was a Pioneer. At least 13 other Pioneers and Rangers have given to his U.S. Senate campaign so far.

In case that starpower wasn’t enough, Portman also used at least five consultants in the period between April 1 and June 30 to help in fundraising. The cost of all that consulting: $131,045.

In Portman’s case, it appears to have paid off: He has raised $1.7 million for each of the two quarters of this year, and has $4.3 million in the bank — far more than any other candidate in the race, Republican or Democrat. In the second quarter, he spent 23 percent of what he raised.

The campaign reports provide a study in contrasts. Portman is spending big sums but raising much bigger sums. Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, on the other hand, spent more than she raised during the period.

Brunner, one of two big-name Democrats in the race, has struggled to raise money. In the period between April 1 and June 30, she raised $228,021 and spent $255,124 — spurring more questions over whether she can last until a May 2010 primary against her Democratic opponent, Ohio Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher.

Her campaign is “spending money they don’t have on things they don’t need,” said Jennifer Duffy of the Cook Political Report. “At this rate, she’s not going to have the money to run a competitive primary.”

Brunner acknowledges it’s been an uphill battle, but said better fundraising days are ahead.

“Sometimes you have to have some up-front investments to build a strong grassroots campaign,” she said, adding that the second quarter was slow because many would-be donors were occupied with the state budget. She said she’s put together a finance committee that includes Hillary Clinton rainmaker Lana Moresky of Shaker Heights.

Fisher, meanwhile, raised $903,762.89 in the period and spent $414,665. Among his largest expenses were $14,000 on online consulting and $17,458 for a charter flight to fly former President Bill Clinton to Ohio for a June 20 fundraiser.

In all, his burn rate — the rate of money spent versus what was raised — was 45 percent. He brought in money from a handful of notables, including Hollywood television producer Gerald Abrams, actress Daphne Zuniga of “Melrose Place” and “Spaceballs,” TV producer Howard Braunstein, Steven Davis, the chairman and CEO of Bob Evans Farms; and Lawrence Dolan, president of the Cleveland Indians.

He also drew one former Bush Pioneer: Anthony Alexander, president of FirstEnergy. Alexander, a two-time Pioneer for Bush, also donated to Portman’s campaign.

Portman, meanwhile, has gotten financial backing from Bush fundraisers including Robert Castellini, CEO of the Cincinnati Reds; Malachi Mixon, CEO of Invacare Corp., a northern Ohio medical equipment company; Gary Heiman, president and CEO of Standard Textile; Richard T. Farmer, founder of the Cintas Corporation in Cincinnati; and Jim Rogers, chairman and CEO of Cinergy.

Portman also has raised money from both Carl Lindner and Carl Lindner III, two Bush fundraisers. In all, he has raised $82,800 from members of the Lindner family, who are or have been involved in a variety of companies including United Dairy Farmers, Chiquita, the Cincinnati Reds and the Great American Insurance Company.

Bob Paduchik, Portman’s campaign manager, said many of the Bush Rangers and Pioneers that gave to Portman’s Senate campaign have also given to his prior congressional campaigns. The Lindners, for example, were constituents when he was in the House.

Most of the former Bush supporters who are backing Portman are doing so, Paduchik said, “because of a personal relationship with the candidate.”

Senate campaign money

Ohioans aren’t the only ones supporting Ohio’s Senate candidates. Here is a recent breakdown of where the money is coming from:

Republican Rob Portman: 78 percent in-state, 22 percent out of state

Democrat Lee Fisher: 88 percent in state, 12 percent out of state

Democrat Jennifer Brunner: 58 percent in state, 42 percent out of state.

Republican Tom Ganley: Ganley is running, but declared only days before the filing deadline.

Source: Center for Responsive Politics: Data is current as of June 29, and does not include most recent fundraising period.

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Maybe those who were hit with that "acorn" on the head in november and voted for "change" now only find change in their pockets. I am middle class and a union member. Wake up people! Stop putting people in office who raise our taxes and give our money away. It might not always be on your income tax but they put it on everything else we use or need to exist. Rob represented me in the house in my district. He did a great job and was concerned for his constituents.My contributions are going to him.

greg
2:59 AM, 8/17/2009

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A fine top of the morning example as to why I no longer subscribed to this liberal rag. DDN plays the stereotypical game again. Insurrection in this country is coming

R U Kidding Me
8:29 AM, 8/1/2009

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When the giant government unions kick in the big bucks for the dumbocrats will that make big headlines in The Daily Snooze?

Old Scratch
3:11 PM, 7/26/2009

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I only had to read the headline to say "hear we go again DDN". Republicans Rich. Democrats Poor. Quit the bull. I am so tired of this elitest BS. Let's check out all of Nobama's rich contributors and Chicagoland mob characters, huh? Oh, and by the way, Rob Portman is a decent guy. Not a liar, cheat and Manchurian candidate. Thanks for such great, fair reporting once again, DDN. Now go back to Youngstown where you belong.

BemusedandBefuddled
1:41 PM, 7/26/2009

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The best government money can buy.

Mark
12:38 PM, 7/26/2009

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