A Big Political Fundraiser

Summary: Most people just think of Ralph Reed as a cultural conservative. But one look at his fundraising, and it's clear he's become a prodigious political money-raiser from wealthy interests and corporate America. He's just another big money politician. Here are quick facts and figures.

 

 

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As the southeastern campaign chairman, Reed raised more than $200,000 for President George W. Bush's re-election effort.

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The Federal Election Commission (FEC) investigated whether Ralph Reed's work for Enron constituted a campaign contribution to the 2000 Bush campaign.

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From 1989 to 1997, Reed served as executive director of the Christian Coalition, during which time the FEC investigated the organization, contending that the organization's massive distribution of voter guides constituted illegal corporate contributions of $1.4 million.


Reed Rounds Up Big Bucks for 2006 Lieutentant Governor Bid

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Big donors fuel Reed's campaign.

 

 

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Ninety-eight percent of Reed's campaign cash-$1.99 million-came from donors contributing more than $101.

 

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Eighty-seven percent of Reed's campaign cash-$1.8 million-came from donors contributing $1,000 or more.

 

 

 

 

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Reed collected more than one-quarter of his campaign cash outside Georgia.

 

 

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Reed took $578,552 from out-of-state donors, 28% of his fundraising totals.

 

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He collected $ 139,586 from interests in Florida; $60,000 from California; $55,250 from Washington,DC; and $49,500 from New York.

 

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Washington lawyers/lobbyists contributing to Reed include former GOP Congressmen-turned-lobbyists Bob Barr (GA), Bill Paxon (NY), and Vin Weber (MN); influential GOP lobbyists Ed Rogers and his partner, Lanny Griffith, as well as Wayne Berman; and Susan Hirschmann, former chief of staff to embattled Republican Majority Leader Tom Delay (R-TX).

 

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Robin and Cherie Arkley contributed a total of $20,000, are longtime Republican donors who have supported both the national Republican Party and President George W. Bush. Robin Arkley also single handedly funded a quarter million dollar independent expenditure campaign - called "You're Fired - against former South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle in 2004.

 

 

 

 

 

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Reed took contributions from donors associated with gambling interests.

 

 

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Reed collected $2,250 from the American Continental Group and $500 from Chesapeake Enterprises, both firms that represent Indian tribes with gaming interests.

 

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Reed took $1,000 from former GOP congressman Bill Paxon, whose firm-Akin, Gump--has represented the Seneca Nation of Indians

 

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Consultant Brian Lunde gave $2,000. Lunde worked to reopen a Tigua-owned casino that was closed in Texas, which Reed had campaigned to close.Reed had worked in conjunction with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who represented rival tribal interests, and who later offered his services to the Tiguas to work to reopen the casino.

 

 

 

 

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Special interests with a stake in Georgia state policies dominate donor rolls.

 

 

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Seventy-two percent of the cash Reed collected-$1.5 million-came from business interests such as the financial, health and energy sectors. He raised more than $615,446 from finance, real estate, and insurance companies alone.

 

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Nearly one out of every $10 Reed has raised--a total of $164,150--comes from lawyers and lobbyists.

 

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He collected $325,970 from real estate interests.

 

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Securities and investment firms kicked in $139,750.

 

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Big banks contributed $73,151.

 

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He took $28,000 from drug companies.

 

 

Top Contributing Companies/Organizations

to Ralph Reed's 2006 Campaign

For Lt. Governor of Georgia

Rank

Company/Organization

Total

1

HBR Capitol Ltd

$38,000

2

Friess Associates

$37,500

3

Century Strategies (Reed's consulting firm)

$36,950

4

Thomas Enterprises

$36,001

5

Yancey Brothers

$36,000

6

Home Depot

$35,000

7

Morris Schneider & Prior

$31,000

8

The Marcus Foundation

$26,000

9

AFLAC

$20,500

10

Alexander Gallo & Associates

$20,000

10

CaterBaldwin Search Svcs.

$20,000

10

Security National Holding Company

$20,000

SOURCES/METHODOLOGY: Data for Reed's lieutenant governor's race reflect Reed's filings with the July 2005 and December 2005 filings with the Georgia Secretary of State and his March 31, 2006 filing with the Georgia State Ethics Commission. The National Institute on Money in State Politics and Public Campaign Action Fund coded contributions from individuals by industry based on their employers, using methodology developed by the Center for Responsive Politics (www.opensecrets.org).

Other sources include newspaper reports, lobbying registrations as presented by the Center for Public Integrity (www.publicintegrity.org), and the U.S. Federal Election Commission (www.fec.gov).

 

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