Dole’s Party Far Out In Front In The Campaign For Money Since The Election Cycle Began In January 1995, The Republican National Committee Has Raked In $239 Million

Sure, Bob Dole trails in the presidential polls. But the Republican Party already can claim victory in at least one crucial ‘96 contest - the ever-accelerating money race.

The GOP’s flagship committee brought in an eye-popping $92.5 million over the last three months, out-raising the Democrats by 2-to-1, according to election finance reports released Sunday.

Since the election cycle began in January 1995, the Republican National Committee has raked in $239 million, mostly in contributions from individuals or corporations.

Although they lag behind the GOP, the Democrats are breaking their own records, too. The Democratic National Committee took in $46.5 million last quarter and reported receipts of $177 million since the start of last year.

Campaign financing has become a hot issue in the presidential race - particularly “soft money” donations to the political parties that commonly reach six figures or more.

On Sunday, Dole, whose presidential campaign has benefited from GOP funding, called for abolishing the use of such “soft money” in the future and endorsed other campaign financing reforms.

“If we’re going to preserve the American people’s confidence in the system, we need to return campaign finance to the front burner,” Dole said in Nashua, N.H. The Republican nominee has seized on hundreds of thousands of contributions to the Democrats from an Indonesian conglomerate to attack President Clinton’s ethics.

Clinton also has called for campaign financing reform, and his campaign aides said Dole had come late to the issue.

Even as candidates talk of further restricting contributions, reports to the Federal Election Commission show the Democrats have doubled their fund-raising over the 1993-94 season, when the national party brought in $83.1 million. And the Republicans also are on track to double the $133.5 million in receipts they reported in 1993-94.

Much of the money raised by the national parties is farmed out to the states. Some also goes straight to the presidential and congressional candidates, and millions is spent on TV advertising.

Going into the final month of campaigning, the Republican National Committee reported $3.8 million in cash on hand, and no debt. It’s Democratic counterpart, in contrast, had only about $100,000 left when its $4.7 million in debt was balanced against $4.8 million in cash.

But millions more is rolling into both parties this month to finance the final rush of spending before the Nov. 5 elections.

The parties detailed their receipts and expenditures through Sept. 30 in reports to the Federal Election Commission.