State: Graham bid saps finances of rivals

When the presidential campaigns call for fundraising help, Berkowitz can comfortably explain, even to such longtime friends as U.S. Sens. John Kerry and Joe Lieberman, that he has little choice but to back the home state candidate.

It's a common refrain lately among deep-pocketed Democrats accustomed to being tapped every election cycle by national candidates. Along with California and New York, Florida has long been a pot of gold for campaign cash. Until Al Gore nearly won the state in 2000, though, presidential candidates typically spent most of it elsewhere.

This could be a very different election, with U.S. Sen. Graham working to control the crucial Florida money spigot.

"He's going to save us a lot of money and time and effort," Berkowitz said. "Florida's always been a serious net exporter of campaign dollars, but I think a lot of the dollars are going to stay home for now."

Graham is not yet among the top tier of candidates in the crowded Democratic field, having started raising money only late last month and still holding off on active campaigning while recovering from heart surgery.

But part of what makes many observers take him seriously is a donor-rich home state that gives him real money-raising potential.

He expects to raise about $20-million for his campaign, at least half of it from Florida. Under federal campaign finance laws, that means 5,000 Floridians writing maximum checks of $2,000. Even before officially becoming a candidate, Graham busily worked the phones and sent letters to keep donors from jumping aboard or staying with other campaigns.

"He's made a real problem for other candidates, who had probably already gotten (Florida fundraising) commitments, such as Johnny Edwards and myself," said Pensacola trial lawyer Fred Levin, who had planned on helping North Carolina Sen. Edwards until Graham stepped into the race.

Graham is making it tough for other Democratic presidential contenders, but not impossible. Nor has he entirely succeeded in locking down Florida's campaign cash gold mine, which in 2000 gave more than $32-million to Democrats running for national office.

U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut raised $300,000 last month at South Florida fundraisers and will be back in Florida next month to raise more.

U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri will be in Miami Wednesday at a fundraiser hosted by prominent lawyer Joseph Klock -- who defended Republican Secretary of State Katherine Harris during the 2000 recount -- and National Beverage Corp. CEO Nick Caporella.

Thursday, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry will be in Tampa at a fundraiser hosted by former state lawmaker Helen Gordon Davis and former Gore regional chairman Chris Griffin, among others.

"Graham hasn't locked up the money at all," said Tampa lawyer Barry Cohen, who hosted a Tampa reception for Kerry in December. "There are some people who aren't joining forces with us right now because they have longstanding relationships with Graham, but they know he doesn't have a chance in hell. As soon as he goes through his little experience of running, those people will be strong (Kerry) supporters."

At the very least, Graham's surprise candidacy has put a lot of Democratic donors in awkward positions.

Some key fundraisers pulled away from candidates counting on their help, as Levin did with Edwards and Orlando investor Richard Swann did with Gephardt. Others are opting to help more than one candidate, including Jacksonville trial lawyer Wayne Hogan, who intends to help both Edwards and Graham. Still others are flummoxed.

"I'm one of those scratching my head, not knowing what to do," said Tampa lawyer Chris Hoyer, who had been helping Kerry and is unsure what to do with Graham in the race.

Mitchell Berger, a Fort Lauderdale lawyer and top Democratic fundraiser, had committed to helping Lieberman. But when Graham started talking about running in December, Berger said he would have to reconsider. In the end, he stuck with Lieberman and now serves as his national finance co-chairman.

"Bob Graham running for president certainly hurts (other candidates in Florida), but no one's devastated," Berger said. "A lot of people are helping more than one candidate."

Graham had a late start raising money, compared with other contenders who have been pulling in donations or lining up commitments for years. He has only $243,000 in his Senate campaign account to transfer to his presidential bid. Compare that to Kerry, who had more than $3-million for his campaign by February, and Gephardt, who had $2.4-million.

The year's first fundraising reporting period ends March 31, and Graham's bottom line will be widely examined as a measure of his viability. Early fundraising totals not only show whether candidates can compete in early primary states, but serve as a credibility measure to the media and donors.

Campaign aides won't say what Graham expects to raise. But across the state, supporters have been given relatively modest goals of raising $10,000 or $20,000 by the end of the month, while lining up commitments for bigger amounts later.

Never has Graham's fundraising skill been tested as it will be in a presidential campaign.

The popular former governor has not faced serious competition since 1986, when he unseated Republican U.S. Sen. Paula Hawkins. For that race, he spent $6.5-million. His effortless re-election campaign against Bill Grant in 1992 cost only $3.1-million, and he raised $5.4-million to easily beat Charlie Crist in 1998, with nearly 80 percent of that coming from Florida.

Those dialing for dollars on Graham's behalf say they're having little trouble.

"Bob Graham is probably the only person, other than the governor, who could raise $10-million in Florida," said former Democratic legislator and prominent fundraiser Dick Batchelor, who had planned to stay out of the presidential race until Graham got in.

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

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