New Hampshire’s Delegation Adds Up
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2- Congressional campaigning is a costly task and with an election only a year away New Hampshire’s members of the House are raising thousands of dollars from various political action committees and individuals both in state and out of state.
With $157,513 in the bank after returning $15,000 to Tom Delay’s political action committee, Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-N.H.) has more money than Rep. Charles Bass (R-N.H.) who has $136,292 for his campaign, according campaign filings with the Federal Election Commission.
Overall, through Sept. 30, Bradley received $103,363 in contributions from individuals and an additional $99,975 from political action committees.
A member of the House Armed Services Committee, Bradley has received about $20,000 from political action committees in the defense industry, including $10,000 from BAE Systems USA PAC, which also contributed to Bass and New Hampshire Sen. John Sununu (R).
“The New Hampshire delegation have in the past, and I would expect in the future, supported strong national defense,” said John Measell, spokesperson for BAE, adding that the company’s political action committee donates money to both Democrats and Republicans.
Bradley also benefited from a $5,000 donation by Sen. Judd Gregg’s White Mountain PAC.
“Congressman Bradley has done an outstanding job representing the people of the First District,” Gregg said in a statement to the Union Leader. “From making a substantial contribution to the Save the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard effort, to environmental conservation efforts and representing New Hampshire’s Veterans on the Veterans’ Affairs and Armed Services Committees, Congressman Bradley is a valuable asset in Congress for New Hampshire.”
Bradley’s filing reports a $300,000 debt, which Debra Vanderbeek , Bradley ‘s chief of staff, said is the result of a $350,000 loan Bradley gave to his campaign during the 2002 primary. Since then, Bradley has paid off $50,000 but carries the remaining $300,000 of debt, Vanderbeek said.
Bass has received $91,500 from political action committees. As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and vice-chair of the subcommittee on telecommunications and the internet, he drew $18,500 from political action committees in the communication and technology industry. Among his political actions committee contributors were Verizon Communications Inc. Good Government Club, Yahoo Inc. PAC, MCI Inc. Employee’s PAC, Motorola Inc. PAC and Sprint Nextel Inc. PAC.
Explaining his group’s decision to contribute to Bass and Bradley, David Fish, spokesperson for the Verizon PAC, said both of New Hampshire’s representatives “seem to care about issues that affect our customers, shareholders and the industry.”
Though he would not comment on why the Sprint Nextel PAC decided to contribute to Bass in particular, spokesperson Travis Sowders said the company’s PAC generally “supports candidates who are supportive of our industry.”
Among other PAC contributions, Bass also received $10,000 from Sununu’s Daniel Webster PAC.
“New Hampshire’s second congressional district is well served by the leadership of Congressman Charlie Bass and Senator Sununu and the Daniel Webster Political Action Committee are proud to support his reelection,” said Paul Collins, treasurer of Team Sununu.
Second district Democratic candidate Paul Hodes also has been busy building his campaign fund in preparation for next year’s election.
Hodes said he believes it is typical for challengers to raise funds through personal contributions and for incumbents to benefit from political action committee contributions because they have their Congressional experience and decisions to back them.
After spending $27,954 for various campaign expenses, Hodes has $56,499 cash-on-hand. Since he began campaigning, Hodes has received $79,203 from individual contributors, including $21,000 from the Dumont family of Wolfboro Falls, Center Ossipee and Center Tuftonboro.
In addition, Hodes has received $10,750 from employees of the New York law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, including from former New York Governor Mario Cuomo. Hodes’ father, Robert B. Hodes, is a partner in the firm.
“It wasn’t because I think his father is a great man, which he is,” Cuomo said in a telephone interview, adding that he was impressed with Hodes’ abilities, as well as his willingness to give up time as a successful trial and entertainment lawyer and time with his family to serve the people of New Hampshire. “He’s not going to be my congressman,” Cuomo said. “But he is going to be our congressman.”
Though neither is up for re-election in 2006, New Hampshire’s Republican senators also are adding to their campaign accounts.
Sen. Judd Gregg has $1.2 million in the bank, adding only $5,100 from individuals and $19,000 from political action committees this quarter, far less than any other New Hampshire member of Congress.
Of his six contributions from individuals, only one was from a New Hampshire resident, with another three were from employees of the Disney Company and one from an employee of the Motion Picture Association of America.
In addition, the Disney Employees Political Action Committee contributed $1,500 to Gregg, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. PAC donated $1,500 and the News America-Fox PAC contributed $1,000.
Jim Kennedy, spokesperson for Sony, said his company’s PAC contributes on a bipartisan basis but declined to comment further.
Though Sen. John Sununu has less money in his campaign fund, with $286,638 in the bank, he raised more money than Gregg this quarter. In addition to the $90,466 Sununu had on hand at the beginning of last quarter he received $233,456 from individual contributions and $101,000 from political action committees.
As a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Sununu received more money from individuals in New York than New Hampshire, including $51,000 from various finance and insurance political action committees.
In addition to PAC contributions, Sununu received $30,250 from employees of Citigroup, $28,000 from employees of the Bank of New York and $14,500 from employees of Fidelity Investments.
Like the rest of New Hampshire’s delegation, Sununu also received strong financial support from the communication and technology industries.
“The purpose of our political giving provides a means for our employees to join in the support of political candidates whose philosophies, and record or performance best represent their beliefs,” said Teri Rucker, spokesperson for AT&T. “We strive to support office holders who recognize the importance of a strong telecommunications industry.”
