State a gold mine for presidential candidates

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 6/4/8 | Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross

[SmithL]

The primaries may be over, but the presidential election spending is just warming up - with California once again proving to be the political ATM of choice for candidates from both parties.

As of last month, Barack Obama had mined $35 million from the Golden State, Hillary Rodham Clinton had collected $27 million, and John McCain had raised $10 million. In each case, the California cash take accounted for more than 10 percent of each candidate's national total.

All told, the presidential primary contenders raised more here than in any other state.

So far, the candidates have pretty much been limited to money that their own campaigns could raise, and the cap has been $2,300 a head. Now look for the money to be funneled through the national parties, where individual limits are more than 10 times greater.

Team Obama is also counting on a contingent of 30 (and growing) fundraisers in California to collect $250,000 apiece - keeping the campaign on target to raise 15 percent of its money here.

Meanwhile, McCain is already out of the blocks for more California money. The presumptive nominee has headlined a series of high-ticket fundraisers from Stockton to Los Angeles, in some cases asking couples for donations of $86,200. The idea is to fill state and national GOP coffers as well as his own.

California Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres said the state is well on its way to eclipse the record $188 million raised here for the 2004 presidential contest.

"We've got the money - and we engage," Torres said.

G is for gold: Developer giant Lennar Corp. spent a whopping $3.4 million on Propositions G and F on San Francisco's ballot, making the city initiative campaign one of the most expensive ever - and in spending terms,...

[Oldexpat]

The GOP doesn’t deserve any contributions. Save your money to give to individual conservative candidates..like Duncan Hunter’s son in SD.
We are forced to vote for McCain..but unless the GOP changes..no more money from me.

[Zhang Fei]

In each case, the California cash take accounted for more than 10 percent of each candidate's national total.

This is unremarkable, since CA has more than 10% of the country's population.

[MinnesotaLibertarian]

In each case, the California cash take accounted for more than 10 percent of each candidate's national total.

California also accounts for about 12% of the country's population, so this really isn't very impressive.

[MinnesotaLibertarian]

Damn, beat me to it...