Delahunt Bests Jones in Fundraising
WASHINGTON, Oct.22- Republican Mike Jones has raised more than double the campaign funds of six other Bay State congressional challengers, but it’s pennies compared with U.S. Rep. William Delahunt’s war chest.
Jones, whose campaign against the Quincy Democrat appears to be an uphill battle, faces a daunting financial gap, according to campaign finance records. Delahunt has $1.8 million in his campaign coffers, compared with the $214,345 Jones has raised as of Sept. 30.
“It makes the idealistic side of me sad that in America money seems to be the only qualifying factor for office,” Jones said.
The Plymouth resident is the founder and owner of Capitol Capital Group LLC, a public relations and lobbying firm that specializing in promoting the growth of business in the Middle East. Jones is also a former executive director of Republicans Abroad.
Delahunt, a member of the International Relations and Judiciary Committees, is seeking a fifth term representing the 10th District of Massachusetts. The district stretches from Quincy along the South Shore down to the Cape and islands.
Donations to Delahunt include $1,000 contributions from high profile supporters such as Sen. John Kerry’s wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, and Kerry’s presidential campaign strategist, John Sasso, and $500 from Ben Barnes, the Texas attorney who claimed to help secure President Bush a spot in the National Guard during the Vietnam War.
Massachusetts business leaders have also contributed to Delahunt, who entered Congress in 1996. Jim Davis, chairman and CEO of Boston-based New Balance shoes, donated $1,000, as did Dan Wolf, president of Hyannis-based Cape Air.
William Spence, owner of Massachusetts Bay Lines, a charter boat company that runs cruises from Rowes Wharf in Boston, contributed $2,000, the full amount allowed by the Federal Election Commission per candidate per election cycle.
Delahunt also welcomed support from his home city as Marina Bay developer Peter O’Connell and Big Dig contractor Jay Cashman, both with business in Quincy, contributed.
Individual donations
Individuals contributed $545,407 to Delahunt this cycle, accounting for just over half the $1,043,264 he raised, according to the latest reports. As of Sept. 30, he had spent $614,315 on his campaign.
“I knew I was going to be going up against a massive amount of money,” said Jones, whose coffers include $34,000 from his own pockets. He has spent $201,693 on the campaign, leaving him with $12,650 on hand in the run up to the election – less than 1 percent of Delahunt’s total.
Jones said that while he knew he would be heavily outspent, he described the financial gap as frustrating.
“They tend to be small donations from people that don’t have a lot, but who give what they can to move our agenda forward,” Jones said.
Jones received a fraction of the political action committee funding that an established legislator like Delahunt attracts. PACs permit special interest groups to contribute up to $10,000 to a congressional campaign each election cycle.
Total PAC contributions to Delahunt reached $286,000, with 10 PACs making the maximum contribution, including the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Laborers Union and the National Cable and Telecommunication Association. The Jones campaign received $7,825 in PAC funding.
“It may be that these people like the work we’re doing,” Delahunt spokesman Steve Schwadron said. “You’re likelier to get a contribution from the service employees (who contributed $5,000 to the Delahunt campaign) if you stand up for minimum wage.”
Supporting the party
While most of Delahunt’s contributions have come from Boston and Cape Cod, the third highest contribution by region is from Miami, Fla. On a single day last February, Delahunt raised more than $14,000 from over 20 Floridians.
In Congress, Delahunt has been a vocal supporter of softening trade and travel restrictions with Cuba. Many of those contributors have connections to Cuba, including Alfredo Duran, a Bay of Pigs veteran, and executives at two companies that charter trips to the island.
“He’s someone who admires the work we’re doing,” Schwadron said of Duran. “It’s gratifying because it shows that the work that we’re doing is held in high respect.”
The Delahunt campaign has been gracious to other Democrats, donating $100,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and donating $1,000 to 13 candidates who are “either partners here in the House or who are strong challengers in other scenes.”
According to Schwadron, the congressman’s donations don’t go unnoticed.
“We’ve given away a lot of Cape Cod ties,” Schwadron said, referring to the ubiquitous fashion tribute Delahunt makes to his district. “As a result, there are a lot of members of Congress who are walking across Capitol Hill with Cape Cod on their chest.”
Delahunt and Jones were scheduled to debate last night in a candidate forum sponsored by the Falmouth League of Women Voters, which also featured candidates for county commissioner and state representative.
Jones, who has accused Delahunt of dodging debates, said he looks forward to focusing on policy instead of financing.
“I worry about the money issue knocking attention away from the real issues,” Jones said.
(Published: October 22, 2004)
