Clinton, McCain Lead Parties In Washington Area Cash Race

Paul Ellington, president of the national Republican recruiting organization GOPAC, said the Democratic tilt of overall donations reflects not only voter registration but also the wide-open GOP field going into the early primaries.

"Republicans had no clear front-runner around whom to rally," Ellington said. "People were hedging their bets and playing the odds."

McCain's fundraising has benefited from his more than two decades in Washington. An analysis by Public Citizen found that McCain has more federal lobbyists raising money for his campaign than any other candidate in either party.

In Virginia, McCain has had access to the fundraising networks of Davis and Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.). He was most successful in raising money from residents of McLean and Alexandria and across the river in Potomac.

Maryland residents, meanwhile, contributed more to Giuliani than any other Republican. He had the backing of Maryland's former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.

Romney was ahead of McCain in Maryland overall, raising $113,000 more in Montgomery. McCain was stronger in Fairfax, pulling in $807,000 compared with Romney's almost $500,000.

Locally, Romney has been helped by President Bush's younger sister Doro Bush Koch, who co-hosted a fundraiser for him last year, and Ronald Kaufman, chairman of the executive committee of the lobbying firm Dutko Worldwide.

With a workforce heavy on lawyers, lobbyists, government workers and contractors, the District and the D.C. suburbs of Maryland and Virginia donated $30.3 million to candidates in 2007, according to reports of itemized contributions of more than $200. Overall, Virginia ranked eighth nationally for presidential primary contributions, followed by ninth-ranked Maryland and the District at No. 11.

Both parties found the most campaign cash in the region's largest jurisdictions: the District and Montgomery and Fairfax counties. The District's Northwest Zip code that includes the Palisades and Tenleytown led the region and ranked eighth nationally, contributing almost $2 million to candidates.

Chevy Chase was fourth in the region and 14th in the country, contributing $1.5 million, and McLean ranked seventh in the region and 26th nationally, donating $1 million.

Obama counts D.C. developer Herb Miller and Montgomery developer Aris Mardirossian among his donors, while D.C. developer James J. Abdo is listed on Clinton's Web site as a bundler, or a supporter who agrees to donate his or her own money and collect checks from others.

Some donors have covered their bases. Black Entertainment Television Chief Executive Debra Lee said in an e-mail that she has raised funds for Obama and Clinton.