Columbus Dispatch...
Obama, Romney in early lead for Ohio donations
But Perry raised impressive sum in a few months
Jessica Wehrman  

October 21, 2011 

WASHINGTON — If early dollars indicate future support, President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney could be duking it out in Ohio next fall. 

Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Romney have each raised nearly $500,000 in Ohio more than a year before Election Day. Republican Rick Perry came in third. 

Perry, the governor of Texas, has raised $283,181 in the state so far this year — an impressive haul considering his campaign started only in August. Obama, meanwhile, has obtained $465,915 in Ohio, and Romney has raised $426,520, according to an analysis of the most recent Federal Election Commission numbers by the Center for Responsive Politics. 

In the Columbus area, Romney has generated $93,800 to date, while Obama has taken in $68,563. Republican Rep. Ron Paul of Texas has raised $22,706, putting him third in central Ohio. 

“I’m not surprised to hear about Romney doing well in Ohio,” said Mary Anne Sharkey, a Cleveland-based political consultant who has worked with Democrats and Republicans. “He is pretty moderate and the mainstream kind of Republican that would appeal to Ohio contributors. I can see Romney doing well in Ohio.” 

Columbus was one of the few metropolitan areas in the state where Romney holds a fundraising edge. Obama led in Akron, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo. 

Sharkey said she is also unsurprised by Obama’s success, saying efforts to repeal Senate Bill 5 (state Issue 2 on the November ballot) have spurred a high level of organization among Democrats and labor unions traditionally supportive of the president. 

Republican Herman Cain, former CEO of Godfather Pizza, has raised $61,355 in Ohio so far. He comes in fifth; Paul with $125,539, is fourth.

In all, Ohioans have contributed $1.5 million to presidential candidates so far this election cycle, the center’s analysis found. That puts Ohio far behind states such as California, Texas, New York, Florida and Massachusetts. California, which has given nearly $17 million to presidential candidates, is the top donating state so far this cycle, followed by Texas, which has given them more than $16 million. 

Nationally, Obama holds a far greater fundraising advantage. He has raised $89.4 million, according to the center, and has $61.4 million in the bank. Romney, in second place, has raised $32.2 million and has $14.6 million in the bank. Perry, meanwhile, has raised $17.1 million ($15 m illion in the bank); Paul has raised $12.6 million ($3.6 million) and Cain has raised $5.3 million ($1.3 million) 

Michael Beckel, a spokesman for the Center for Responsive Politics, said the state’s fundraising indicates that, once again, Ohio will be a battleground. 

“While Obama’s approval ratings have fallen in Ohio since he won the state in 2008, Obama still enjoys pockets of support from supporters who have dug into their own pockets to donate to his campaign,” Beckel said. 

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