Kucinich supporters donate nearly $700,000 in six weeks

[OhioChick]

Posted by Molly Kavanaugh February 21, 2008 22:07PM
Categories: Breaking News, Kucinich
U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich's plea to supporters to send money has paid off.

In the past six weeks, Kucinich raised nearly $700,000 in his bid to hold onto his 10th Congressional District seat. That brings his total to $735,000, the most he has amassed in a congressional race, including his initial bid 12 years ago against incumbent Martin Hoke.

His top rival, Cleveland Councilman Joe Cimperman, reported total contributions of $487,000, a little over half which was raised this year.

Thursday was the deadline for congressional candidates to file pre-primary finance reports with the Federal Elections Commission. To check the reports go to fec.gov.

Kucinich's big money givers, who donated a total of $230,000, primarily live outside of Ohio. A third of the money came from California, where 120 people donated a total of $75,700. Ohioans contributed nearly $25,000. His other top states for donations were New York, Massachusetts and Oregon.

His supporters include singer Bonnie Raitt, best-selling author and New Age lecturer Marianne Williamson and "Million Dollar Baby" film writer Paul Haggis, along with numerous college professors, artists and retirees.

Cimperman's supporters are almost all Ohioans. The roster includes Cleveland Indians attorney Paul Dolan, downtown real estate developer Richard Jacobs and Crocker Park developer Bob Stark. The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 880 gave $5,000.

Cimperman collected $15,000 from people outside Ohio.

Both candidates appear to have sizeable amounts of money left to spend. As of Feb. 13. Kucinich reported having $330,000 and Cimperman, $215,000.

The other three candidates reported much smaller war chests.

Rosemary Palmer has raised $55,000 and lent her campaign $106,000. The former teacher and journalist who is opposed to the war entered the run after her U.S. Marine son was killed in combat in Iraq.

North Olmsted Mayor Thomas O'Grady has raised $37,000. Barbara Ferris, the head of a nonprofit International Women's Democracy Center, has raised close to $17,000 in donations.

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/02/kucinich_supporters_donate_nea.html

Go Dennis!

[flvegan]

1. K&R!