By BARRY MASSEY Associated Press Writer
SANTA FE, N.M.—A Houston homebuilder, who bankrolled the "Swift Boat" ads against Democrat John Kerry in 2004, has contributed a hefty amount of money to the state Republican Party.
Bob Perry gave $125,000 to the state GOP last month. His money represented almost 90 percent of the total contributions collected by the party from May 28 through June 28, according to the party's most recent campaign finance report filed with the secretary of state.
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Other contributors to the GOP were Qwest Communications Inc., $4,000, and Wal-Mart Stores Inc., $2,500.
Major donors to the Democratic Party included a property fund of Coast Range Investments, $5,000. The company is planning a 6,000-acre industrial park and residential development near Belen, and the investment fund gave $10,000 to the party last year. Labor unions contributed $11,000 to the party, including $5,000 from the New Mexico Federation of Labor.
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In a sign of the national interest in New Mexico's Senate race between Pearce and Democrat Tom Udall, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee transferred about $124,000 to the state party's federal account in May.