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Democratic contenders raise millions for White House bidsGephardt trails Edwards, Kerry
By John Mercurio
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt of Missouri, who has made fund raising a key focus of his presidential campaign, said Thursday that he raised $3.6 million during the first three months of 2003. That is roughly half as much as Democrats Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and John Edwards of North Carolina collected during the same quarter, according to fund-raising estimates provided by campaign aides this week. Edwards' campaign has reported raising about $7.4 million in the first three months of 2003, while Kerry raised about $7 million during that same period. But Kerry likely leads the Democratic presidential field in cash-on-hand, banking more than $8 million -- including funds shifted or raised last year -- as of March 31. On Thursday, Gephardt, who has openly identified weak fund raising as a fatal flaw in his failed 1988 presidential bid, released his report by emphasizing that he shifted $2.4 million from his congressional war chest. Gephardt had $5 million on hand March 31. "Our first quarter's fund raising has exceeded our expectations," said Gephardt's campaign manager, Steve Murphy. "We are on pace to meet our 2003 goal and will have all the resources we need to run a winning campaign." Dean, Lieberman
Two other Democrats, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, released fund-raising estimates Wednesday, each showing that they raised less. Lieberman, the only Democratic candidate who previously has run on a national ticket, raised slightly more than $3 million during the quarter. Dean, who trails in national polls but has carved out a potentially strong niche among antiwar Democrats, raised an estimated $2.6 million during the quarter and had about $2 million on hand March 31, aides said. To be sure, the three-month period is a long way from January 2004, when Democratic voters will cast their first ballots in the presidential nominating process. But early fund-raising reports, due to be filed by April 15 with the Federal Election Commission, are being closely watched to assess candidates' strength, organizational prowess and viability. Dean aides said their fund raising confirms their ability to compete in early-primary states. "Our internal goal had been $1.5 million, so this is very credible," said Dean spokeswoman Sue Allen. Moving quickly to counter anticipated charges of weak fund raising, Lieberman aides emphasized that the senator -- bound by a pledge not to run for president if his 2000 running mate, former Vice President Al Gore, joined the race -- entered the race later than most other major candidates and consequently has had less time to organize a formal fund-raising machine. Lieberman did not enter the race until January 13, four weeks after Gore officially declined to run again. Lieberman did not formally hire his fund-raising director, Shari Yost, until late February, aides noted. "Despite a late start, once our fund-raising operation was firmly in place, we hit our stride," said Lieberman campaign manager Craig Smith, noting that the campaign raised about 70 percent of their total haul in one month alone. Lieberman raised $300,000 in January, another $600,000 in February and, once Yost was hired, raked in $2.1 million in March. Spokesman Jano Cabrera also said Lieberman has raised more money in the first week of April than they did during the entire month of January. Lieberman's fundraising also may have been hurt by the unexpected candidacy of Florida Sen. Bob Graham. Graham's decision to run and his protracted deliberations about the race, froze some potential Lieberman donors, including Jewish voters and party activists still upset by the Florida presidential election in 2000. Lieberman is the only Jewish candidate and south Florida is home to a sizeable Jewish population. Other Democratic candidates include former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois, Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and the Rev. Al Sharpton. None of them had released fund-raising estimates as of Thursday afternoon. Barring a surprisingly strong showing from one of those candidates, however, Kerry and Edwards will likely dominate the campaign this spring, buoyed by an abundance of resources and all-important "buzz" generated by their strong financial reports. Edwards also has $1.4 million in his Senate re-election fund, which he could roll over into his presidential campaign. But aides say there are no plans to do so. Overall, the reports also reveal a dose of good news for Democrats in their quest to oust President Bush, himself a proven fund raiser. "There's a lot of money out there for Democrats right now, there's clearly a great deal of enthusiasm out there to beat this president," said Erik Smith, Gephardt's campaign spokesman. At this point in the 2000 cycle, Gore, then a sitting vice president, and former Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey had raised a total of $13.2 million in the Democratic presidential primary. (Gore had raised $8.9 million; Bradley had raised $4.3 million). "This year, you have two candidates who have raised $14 million between the two of them. There are seven other candidates in the race, and this is a much tougher economy," said Smith, the Gephardt spokesman. At this point in 1999, Gore held $6.8 million cash-on-hand; Bradley had banked $2.9 million, reports show. Senior Political Researcher Robert Yoon contributed to this report.
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