McBride funds outpace Reno

The former attorney general has greater name recognition, yet her fundraising efforts fall far short of the opposition.

By ADAM C. SMITH, Times Political Editor
© St. Petersburg Times
published July 11, 2002

The Democratic gubernatorial candidate whom half of Florida's voters have never heard of is raising more campaign cash than the one almost everybody knows.

Yet Bill McBride's ability to overcome Janet Reno's overwhelming lead among Democratic voters with an expensive TV campaign appears uncertain nine weeks before the primary.

And neither comes close to the pile of money raised by Republican Gov. Jeb Bush.

Fundraising reports released Wednesday show McBride has about $1.2-million on hand, compared to roughly $220,000 for Reno and $4.97-million for Bush. In the three months ending June 30, McBride raised $535,000, Reno raised $369,000, and state Sen. Daryl Jones, the other major Democratic candidate, said he raised about $55,000. Bush raised more than $1.26-million.

The latest reports, covering April 1 through June 30, prompted the McBride camp to tout its momentum. But even with $842,000 more in public matching money, McBride has a long way to go to finance a statewide TV blitz to catch Reno. She is leading McBride by nearly 30 points in recent polls, which also show half the voters have never heard of him.

"Clearly, one candidate is on the climb and the other is on the fall," said Bill Coletti, a Republican political consultant. "The question is whether McBride can climb fast enough between now and September."

In a sprawling state like Florida, TV ads are crucial to running a viable campaign. Reno, though, is so well known, her campaign does not plan an extensive ad campaign before the Sept. 10 primary.

McBride said he intends to run spots for at least six weeks before the primary. But the money he has at this point would cover about two weeks. By most estimates, he needs at least $3-million, and that would not be enough for every TV market in the state.

Mo Elleithee, Reno's campaign manager, dismissed McBride's fundraising lead. "Given Janet Reno's support among the grass roots and among activists, it will take a lot more than two weeks of unanswered television ads to beat us," he said.

Reno and McBride have similar platforms, blasting the governor for doling out corporate tax breaks while spending far too little on schools and other state services. But McBride, a decorated Vietnam veteran and former head of Florida's biggest law firm, has emerged as the Democratic establishment candidate, winning key endorsements from unions and public officials. Reno has largely campaigned as the independent-minded candidate of experience who represents grass roots voters.

McBride said he has commitments for more money in the coming weeks. He also expects independent groups, including the state teachers union and the AFL-CIO, as well as the state party, to launch ads on his behalf before the primary.

Florida Democratic Party Chairman Bob Poe said the party is offering the same thing for any candidate who raises significant money. Party ads would have to at least mention two other candidates.

Bush campaign spokesman Todd Harris suggested the potential campaign resources available to McBride can't be dismissed.

"There's no question (McBride's) the special-interest candidate. The unions and the Democratic leaders got behind him months ago, because they understand he's the easier one for them to control," Harris said, contrasting McBride with Reno. "Janet Reno has the name I.D. that money can't buy, and Bill McBride has enough special-interest endorsements to finance 10 campaigns."

When Reno first jumped into the race last fall, her supporters predicted she would be one of the few candidates who could compete with Bush in raising money. It didn't happen.

Skeptics say her weak fundraising may not prove a major hurdle in a primary against little-known opponents, but it would be a serious problem taking on the well-funded Bush in November. The latest reports for the state parties were unavailable Wednesday, but the state GOP, with help from the White House, has dramatically out-raised Democrats. Most of that money will go toward the Bush campaign.

-- Adam C. Smith can be reached at (727) 893-8241 or adam@sptimes.com

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