Gop Rakes In Gifts

While the Democratic Party struggles with embarrassing disclosures about its fund raising and a nagging debt, the Republicans are bragging about raising $11 million during a lucrative start to 1997.

The Republican National Committee wiped out one-third of its post-election debt in the first three months of the year, Chairman Jim Nicholson said. That leaves the party owing $6.6 million - a little more than half the Democratic National Committee’s $12.7 million debt.

Steven Grossman, national chairman of the Democratic National Committee, has said his party raised $8.8 million in January, February and March.

A sizable chunk of the DNC’s fund raising will have to go toward refunding $1.5 million in questionable contributions.