Office Seekers Pull In Record $1.6 Billion

Candidates for the White House and Congress will take in a record of at least $1.6 billion from campaign contributors this year, a new study shows.

Corporations and other business interests have written larger checks than other groups that donate, giving a total of more than $240 million, according to the study by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. That is more than labor unions and single issue groups--the second and third largest contributors of money.

Ellen Miller, executive director for the center, said that the contributions are important because “nine out of 10 candidates who raise the most money win. And when candidates for political office solicit and receive big bucks for their political campaigns, big favors are incurred. Both [major] parties know it. Both parties do it.”

Tobacco and food giant Philip Morris Cos. is the largest single campaign contributor, the report said. Philip Morris has given $2.7 million through political action committees, soft money donations and large individual donations by corporate executives. Seventy-eight percent of that money has gone to Republicans, the study found.

The study also showed a major shift in the pattern of contributions. In recent election cycles, according to the center, Democratic and Republican candidates received roughly equal numbers of dollars.

But shortly after the Republicans seized control of both houses of Congress in 1994, contributions speeded up for GOP lawmakers and slowed to a trickle for Democrats.

That tide appears to be shifting somewhat now, with Democrats catching up. But to date, Republicans still are leading, 2 to 1, said Larry Makinson, deputy director of the center.

“The Republicans really tried to stop the money going to Democrats,” Makinson said. “It worked. For a while, the drop-off was dramatic. It was overnight. And the Republicans reaped a whirlwind of money.”

Since then, major telecommunications legislation, which Congress approved in February, drew in money from the lobbyists for long-distance carriers, and it found its way to members of both parties. AT&T; Corp., which ranked second in terms of overall contributions, gave 40% of its $2.1 million to Democrats.

Litigation-reform legislation, which Congress approved but President Clinton killed with a veto, helped Democrats even more. The Assn. of Trial Lawyers of America--the third largest individual contributor of campaign money overall--gave 83% of its money to Democrats in an attempt to fight off the legislation, the report said.

To no one’s surprise, the report also said that incumbent candidates for Congress receive far more than do their challengers.

For instance, Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-Rocklin) has been given more than $500,000 for his campaign so far. His Democratic challenger, Katie Hirning, has received less than $60,000.

And Robert T. Matsui (D-Sacramento) also has received more than $500,000 so far. His opponent, Republican Robert S. Dinsmore, has taken in just $14,000.