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Gallagher, Davis sign powerful fundraisers
By ADAM C. SMITH
Published January 10, 2006
In a coup for Tom Gallagher, Zach Zachariah, one of the country's top Republican fundraisers, said Monday he planned to help the chief financial officer's gubernatorial campaign.
The Fort Lauderdale cardiologist will serve as honorary finance co-chairman for Gallagher, along with insurance executive Tom Petway of Jacksonsville. Petway and Zachariah each have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for President Bush and Gov. Jeb Bush and in 2004 led the Bush-Cheney fundraising operation in Florida.
Meanwhile, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis of Tampa on Monday picked up support from another notable fundraiser.
Miami lawyer Kirk Wagar, who raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for John Kerry in Florida, sent Democratic activists an e-mail saying he would help the Tampa congressman. The Democratic National Committee's former Florida finance chairman praised Davis' rival for the nomination, state Sen. Rod Smith, but said Davis appeared headed to victory.
"I firmly believe that the Democratic nomination is all but decided and we now need to rally to financially support Jim to introduce his character, values and priorities to the rest of Florida," wrote Wagar, who initially had backed Scott Maddox before he dropped out of the race.
Republican Attorney General Charlie Crist is leading Gallagher in most polls of Republican voters, and Crist is raising more money - $6.86-million last year, compared with $5.29-million for Gallagher. Zachariah said he is close with both candidates, but has known Gallagher longer.
"One of the concerns I had was that Charlie did have a lot of support from the trial lawyers, but there was no one thing that made up my mind," said Zachariah, who serves on the Florida Board of Governors. "Both of them are good friends, and I think the world of both."
Gov. Bush is neutral in the Republicans' primary race.
--Adam C. Smith can be reached at 727 893-8241 or adam@sptimes.com
[Last modified January 10, 2006, 07:09:38]
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