Texas: Bush Sets Money Records
Gov. George W. Bush (R) set a six-month fund-raising record – raising nearly $8 million in that time frame. The hefty figure far outdistances his Democratic challenger, Garry Mauro, who raised $804,000 during the same period. In fact, Bush's $1 million in out-of-state contributions out-paced Mauro's total. Bush has nearly $13 million for his campaign after paying expenses, while Mauro has a little more than $200,000 on hand.
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Democrats launched a six-week television ad campaign in mid-January characterizing Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) as soft on crime. The ad focuses on Huckabee's clemency for castrated rapist Wayne Dumond as well as parole decisions for drug and murder convicts. The ads were criticized by some as coming too early to be effective and, perhaps, a waste of money. Democrats said they initiated early television attacks because of poll results completed for Sen. Mike Beebe (D) showing Huckabee's approval ratings fell when voters were informed of details about his record.
Following U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein's (D) decision not to run for governor, Lt. Gov. Gray Davis (D) has picked up endorsements from groups expected to support Feinstein – including the influential California Teachers Association. Davis's rank has risen suddenly among traditional Democratic interest groups, largely because his main rival, millionaire Al Checchi (D), has alienated the state's unions. The union support of Davis won't hurt Checchi financially because of his virtually unlimited personal financial resources. But it will help Davis in grassroots efforts, as unions and party groups have a substantial volunteer base that Checchi won't be able to assemble.
Gov. Lawton Chiles (D) has been calling black legislators to try to resolve the apparently racial implications of the dispute over the ouster of Rep. Willie Logan (D) as speaker designate. Blacks represent about 20 to 25 percent of registered Democrats in Florida; withdrawal of their support would hurt Democratic Lt. Gov. Buddy MacKay's gubernatorial campaign and could affect Democrats candidates statewide.
Former U.S. Rep. Jim Ross Lightfoot (R) is winning the GOP gubernatorial fundraising race, but has already spent nearly two-thirds of his $600,000. Endorsed by 55 of the 81 GOP legislators, Lightfoot is raising money easily. But he's getting another kind of attention for failing to show up at candidate forums. One GOP contender, David Oman (R), has criticized Lightfoot for missing several forums. Oman has compared Lightfoot's absence to the popular children's books "Where's Waldo?" – picking up the campaign banner of "Where's Jim Ross?" Lightfoot's campaign states it has attended numerous forums with GOP contenders Oman, Joy Corning (R) and Secretary of State Paul Pate (R).
Honoring a campaign promise, Gov. Mike Foster ( R ) will donate his $95,000-a-year salary to make grants to teachers "who are able to develop a working-values program in the schools." The governor promised during 1995 to give up his salary if he didn't get teacher pay to the southern average within two years of taking office. Foster's two-year anniversary as governor fell the first week in January. Teachers are still far short of the southern average in pay.
No serious, credible candidates have emerged from either party to run against Independent Gov. Angus King. Little money is being raised by anyone – including King, which many Maine political observers find odd. Both parties have expressed private worries – probably exaggerated – about capturing 5 percent of the vote in November – the minimum total required to exist as a legally recognized political party. While King enjoys high approval ratings, his winning margin must exceed 90 percent to threaten the parties' essential 5 percent. Such a margin is unlikely.
Despite a booming economy and a drop in violent crime, Democratic Gov. Parris Glendening's statewide approval ratings continue to lag. Recent polls show the governor and likely Republican nominee Ellen Sauerbrey in a dead heat. Glendening narrowly defeated Sauerbrey in 1994.
Many Republicans, desperate for a gubernatorial candidate, hope U.S. Rep. Mike Parker's (R) decision not to seek re-election to Congress this fall will vault him to the front of the GOP nomination race. But Parker says he's leaving Congress to spend more time with his family. His comments may be sincere: Political insiders suggest that Parker would not have given up the fundraising advantages of a congressman if his gubernatorial interests were sincere. But Parker has taken unconventional steps in the past.
Gov. Keating (R) is everywhere of late and has significantly stepped up his public appearance schedule. He also has broken a state record by raising more than $1.3 million in an off-election year. Meanwhile, gubernatorial candidate Rep. Laura Boyd (D) continues to maintain a busy schedule but isn't raising competitive amounts of money. Rep. Jim Hager (D), another contender, has been virtually invisible.
Legislative Democrats, still without an identifiable philosophy or a candidate for governor to bring voters out later this year, showed their respect for Gov. Don Sundquist (R) and his $5 million war chest. They are backing a $40,000 pay raise for the governor, to take effect next year, and appear to be supporting the governor's few priorities, including charter schools.