Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter extended his fundraising lead against Republican Bob Beauprez, reporting Wednesday that he has raised nearly $3 million in contributions as the candidates enter the final stretch of the campaign.
Ritter collected $197,362 from contributors during the two- week period ending Sept. 13, bringing his total cash contributions for the campaign to $2.88 million, according to reports filed late Wednesday with the Colorado secretary of state’s office.
Beauprez reported raising $99,947, for a total of $2.38 million.
Although Beauprez is now trailing by about half a million dollars, his campaign hopes to regain some ground when President Bush comes to town Oct. 4 for a fundraiser. The luncheon, at the Inverness hotel, costs $1,000 a person. The Beauprez campaign is expecting between 400 and 500 guests.
Although many in attendance already may have contributed the maximum to Beauprez, they can still donate to the state Republican Party. The Colorado GOP has given only $22,000 to Beauprez thus far in the campaign but is permitted to contribute up to $500,000.
“Bush can do a lot for Beauprez, and Beauprez can use the money quickly, for ad time and mailers,” said Seth Masket, political science professor at the University of Denver.
Although Democrats are using Bush and the war in Iraq to stir up voters in some congressional races, the president could boost Beauprez’s gubernatorial race.
“If it’s among the party faithful, his appearance is a good thing,” Masket said. “It helps Beauprez shore up Republicans.”
Ritter jumped ahead of Beauprez in fundraising for the first time in late August by tapping traditional Democratic sources of campaign cash – lawyers and unions – and by appealing to business sources upset with Beauprez’s opposition to last year’s Referendum C, which was approved by voters to let the state keep more revenues.
Campaign filings show Ritter had collected at least $730,000, or 25 percent of his financial support, from attorneys. Beauprez got a little more than $100,000, or just under 5 percent, from attorneys.
Committees that bundle small donations from union members gave $160,000 to Ritter.
Not all contributors report their occupation. About 10 percent of Ritter’s supporters did not include an occupation. Twenty- six percent of Beauprez’s did not.
Although there has been much talk in political circles about Ritter’s taking traditionally GOP business support away from Beauprez because of Referendum C, the campaign disclosures show Beauprez still outraised the Democrat nearly 2-to-1 from boardroom executives.
Ritter has collected at least $123,000 from contributors who list their profession as president, chief executive or chairman, compared with about $225,000 for Beauprez.
As the election winds down to the final few weeks, most wealthy contributors appear to have been tapped out. Contributions of $1,000 or more made up only a handful of the 765 donors to Beauprez. The vast majority of his contributors gave smaller amounts, many under $100.
Ritter’s filings show he continues to rely on attorneys for significant financial support, with more than 140 contributors in the past two weeks listing attorney as their profession.
The Beauprez campaign has attacked that funding source on the campaign trail, warning that Ritter’s support from trial lawyers could influence his decisions if he is elected governor.
Evan Dreyer, spokesman for Ritter, dismissed accusations that lawyers are donating to the Ritter campaign to win support for pet policies.
“Nobody who has contributed has demanded anything of Bill,” Dreyer said. “Everybody – Bill has been very clear on this – understands he will be a gatekeeper of good policy.”
Beauprez has won support from high-profile Denver lawyers Steve Farber and Norm Brownstein. Records show their firm has contributed $12,700 to the Beauprez campaign. Ritter’s filings list $19,375 in contributions from donors who list the firm as their employer.
Staff writer Mark P. Couch can be reached at 303-954-1794 or mcouch@denverpost.com.
