Obama top fundraiser in Northwest

Sat., Feb. 2, 2008

Matthew Daly Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Democrat Barack Obama has raised more Washington state money than any other presidential candidate, but Republican Mitt Romney is the top fundraiser in Oregon and Idaho.

The latest campaign finance reports, broken out by state, show Obama has raised more than $1.7 million in Washington – nearly double Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Romney tops Oregon with nearly $430,000 raised, followed by Obama at about $372,000, with Clinton and Republican John McCain trailing. In heavily Republican Idaho, Romney has raised more than $600,000 – triple the amount raised by any other candidate.

Figures compiled by the Federal Election Commission show the presidential candidates raised more than $9.3 million in the three Northwest states through the end of 2007 – just 1.5 percent of the $582 million they raised nationwide as of Dec. 31.

Obama, a first-term Illinois senator, continued to show strength in the Northwest – raising more than Clinton in all three states – and was the only candidate in either party to top $1 million in a Northwest state.

Obama’s total of $1.74 million in Washington was far above the $992,873 raised by Clinton, a New York senator and former first lady. Both candidates topped Edwards, the former North Carolina senator who dropped out of the race this week. Edwards raised $692,892 in Washington.

On the GOP side, Romney was the clear choice in the Northwest money race. The former Massachusetts governor was the top GOP fundraiser in all three states, raising $707,697 in Washington, $600,806 in Idaho and $429,612 in Oregon.

Perhaps the most surprising showing was by Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, who raised $551,300 in Washington – second to Romney and far above McCain’s third-place finish in Washington, with $339,844 raised. Giuliani, a former New York City mayor, raised $265,389.

Paul, a blip in most national polls, has generated a large following in Washington and Oregon, where his opposition to the Iraq war and support for personal freedoms has resonated. Organizers said he could do surprisingly well in Washington’s Feb. 9 caucuses.

Obama’s Oregon total of $371,789 was just ahead of Edwards, who had $370,572, while Clinton was far behind with $215,793.

Obama raised $63,983 in Idaho, just above the $61,630 raised by Clinton.

Obama is scheduled to speak today at Boise State University.

McCain, the veteran Arizona senator who is considered the GOP front-runner nationally, raised just $141,684 in Oregon and $100,530 in Idaho, placing him fourth among Republicans in both states.

Paul raised $224,923 in Oregon and $115,728 in Idaho, while Giuliani brought in $160,760 in Oregon and $173,450 in Idaho.

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