Jane Fonda among big givers to Gore effort

©Associated Press

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 8, 2000

WASHINGTON -- Actor Jane Fonda was among nine supporters of Vice President Al Gore who made six-figure donations to his recount committee, newly released records show.

Stephen Bing, a California screenwriter who wrote a $1-million check to the Democratic National Convention's host committee last summer, gave $200,000 to Gore's recount committee. Houston lawyer John O'Quinn also gave $200,000, records show.

Fonda, top Democratic donor S. Daniel Abraham and Tennessee developer Franklin Haney were among the $100,000 donors.

Steven Kirsch, founder of the Internet company InfoSeek.com, donated $500,000.

The committee provided the names of 1,258 donors who gave a total of $3.2-million as of Nov. 27, according to financial disclosure records released Thursday. Since then, the committee has raised another $300,000.

While more than 80 percent of the donors, or 1,018 individuals, gave $200 or less, the recount committee also took in dozens of larger donations. Under federal law, recount committees can accept unlimited donations, although George W. Bush is limiting his contributions to a maximum of $5,000. Bush has raised $7.4-million to pay for his Florida recount expenses.

While Gore and Bush raised money to finance their recount operations, they drained their campaign bank accounts. Bush had just $1.3-million of his original $67.6-million left as of Nov. 27. Gore's figures were unavailable.

The Bush campaign also raised $2-million to pay for legal and accounting expenses, giving it $6.8-million in the bank. Gore raised $852,956 and had $9.2-million in his legal fund.

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