Top Donors Critical in Tight Sununu-Shaheen Senate Race
DONORS
Keene Sentinel
Kenna Caprio
Boston University Washington News Service
March 20, 2008
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Sununu (R-N.H.) out-raised former New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, his leading challenger, last year, with significant contributions coming from the Club for Growth, a group that promotes conservative fiscal policy.
“He’s had a great record on economic issues,” said Nachama Soloveichik, communications director for the Club for Growth, in endorsing the senator. Sununu, she said, supports less government spending and “smaller, limited government, giving people greater economic freedom.” The Club for Growth spent about $8,500 in both direct donations to Sununu or independently on behalf of his candidacy.
In 2007 Sununu raised $3.1 million and Shaheen $1.37 million for their campaigns, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission.
Despite Sununu’s fundraising success, however, Shaheen has the lead in early polls. The Granite State Poll, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center and made public on Feb. 11, put her ahead, 55 to 37 percent. The poll, which surveyed 516 likely November voters, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.
“We have to wait and let the campaign play out; the candidates have been focused on raising money. He’s the most vulnerable incumbent in the country,” said Nathan L. Gonzales, political editor of the Rothenberg Political Report.
That publication, a nonpartisan newsletter that covers politics and the Hill, lists Sununu’s seat in the “toss-up” category.
“I think Sununu’s been focusing on fundraising, and that’s probably a part of the campaign that’s been going well for him,” Gonzales said. “Republicans talk about how little Shaheen has raised. I don’t think that this campaign will be won or lost on money. It’ll have to do with the candidates, the message and the environment.”
Kate Bedingfield, communications director for Shaheen’s campaign, seconded that sentiment and added, “We’ll have plenty of money to get our message out, plenty of resources…. All data of late shows that people are really excited about her candidacy and are looking for something new.”
The top donor to Shaheen’s campaign is ActBlue, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan group that tracks campaign funding. ActBlue is a progressive Democratic group, which contributors use as a conduit to donate funds to Democratic candidates of their choice.
“It [ActBlue] serves as a legitimator early in the race,” said Marissa Doran, the group’s director of strategy and communications.
Last year, individual donors donated $194,666 to Shaheen’s campaign through ActBlue.
People donating to Shaheen online “represent a ground swell of excitement about the campaign,” Bedingfield said.
“The people who have contributed to Senator Sununu share his commitment to low taxes, limited government, local control and limited responsibility,” said Paul Collins, Sununu’s chief of staff. “They appreciate the leadership that he’s shown in the United States Senate.”
Candidates mainly rely on political action committees (PACs) and individual donors to fund their campaigns. Individuals may donate up to $4,600 per election cycle — $2,300 for the primary and $2,300 for the general election. PACS may give $10,000 per cycle — $5,000 each for the primary and general election. Individual donors may give up to $5,000 per calendar year to political action committees.
Incumbents usually collect more PAC money because they already are in Washington and have defined their positions on issues of interest to PACs.
“Depends on who the member is, are they moderate? Depends on what committees they sit on and what region of the country. A lot of factors come into play,” Gonzales said.
There are many reasons for contributing to a political campaign.
For Rich Ashooh, vice president of government relations for the electronics and integrated solutions branch of BAE Systems, a global aerospace and defense company, an old friendship, similar political positions and his own congressional background, all led him to donate funds to Sununu’s campaign.
Ashooh, who disclosed that he and Sununu have known one another for “going on 10 years now,” worked on Capitol Hill in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a legislative aide to former New Hampshire Sen. Gordon Humphrey and alongside New Hampshire Sen. Warren Rudman as a professional staff member for the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
In 2007 Ashooh donated $2,000 to Sununu’s campaign but expects to “max out” and contribute as much as he can to the campaign.
“Personally we’re friends but professionally he’s among the best I’ve ever seen,” Ashooh said. “What makes him stand out to me is I have not seen many senators in their first term have the impact that he’s had.”
Ashooh said believes in a government that allows individuals “the freedom to pursue their interests.” He added that he believes in a strong national defense and in efforts to fight worldwide poverty and the spread of AIDS.
“Good example of where Sen. Sununu and I agree: he’s been a huge advocate for global AIDS relief,” Ashooh said.
This is not the first time Ashooh has donated to a political campaign; he gave to Sununu’s 2002 campaign.
“We’re in a capitalist society; that applies to politics too,” Ashooh said. “And to make a difference you need to be engaged in as many levels as you can. I work for candidates that I support, I share my opinions, donate. If you’re going to support one of them you need to bring your A game.”
Individual donations like Ashoo’s last year totaled $1.9 million for Sununu, or about 60 percent of his total receipts, according the the filings with the Federal Election Commission. Shaheen, who lost in 2002 to Sununu, raised $1.1 million from individuals, or 82 percent of all contributions. According to the Shaheen campaign, the average individual contribution was $290.
Leading donors to Sununu’s reelection campaign include securities and investment, insurance and leadership PACs, which include members of Congress, politicians, candidates and other political or party figures. Challenger Shaheen’s top donors include Democratic/liberal groups, people who support women’s issues and retired persons, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
“I think in some regards it goes back to priorities,” said Sheehan aide Bedingfield. Sununu, she added, is “a Washington candidate; he went to Washington and has forgotten about New Hampshire.”
But Bedingfield acknowledged that a victory for Shaheen will not be easy to come by. “It’s going to be a close race,” she said. “Anybody who says anything else is lying. It’s going to be a tight race.”
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