RI’s Richest Communities for Political Donations
Saturday, February 04, 2012
Rhode Island residents have made more than $2 million in federal campaign contributions during the 2012 election cycle, with residents on the East Side of Providence leading the way with more than $270,000 in donations, according to a GoLocalProv review of campaign finances.
About 63 percent of the contributions have gone directly to Democrats, but the local politician receiving the most cash so far has been Congressional candidate Brendan Doherty. The former head of the state police has received $256,768 while Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman David Cicilline are second and third, respectively.
Residents from five different zip codes combined to donate at least $100,000. After the East Side of Providence, Newport (02840), Providence (02903) East Greenwich (02818) and Barrington (02806) all contributed six figures to campaigns.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTStill, Rhode Island is ranked near the bottom of the country in total donations, coming in at No. 40 overall. Analysts say the state’s small population in addition to an unemployment that has remained stubbornly high over the last two years has led candidates and elected officials to seek contributions from organizations outside of the state.
“With the heavy cost of campaigning and the limitations placed on a donor, candidates are forced to seek funding anywhere they can find it,” Rhode Island College Political Communications professor Kay Israel said recently. “Whether it's from out of state individuals, unions or corporate political action committees, or national parties candidates need to find those with enough wealth to spread money around. Each can only contribute a limited amount of money to a candidate, but the law allows them to do it for several candidates.”
National Money Required
Depending on the zip code, the top recipient on contributions tends to vary. On the liberal East Side of Providence, Cicilline, President Obama, and Whitehouse have all received more than $50,000 in contributions. In Newport, Republican Mitt Romney has led the way. The Republican National Committee and Senate candidate Barry Hinckley are also among the Republicans that have received significant contributions from that part of the state.
Quest Research pollster Victor Profughi said it can still be difficult raising money in the Ocean State, especially for those running for federal office. For example, Whitehouse, Cicilline and Hinckley have had to raise more money from out of state than in Rhode Island.
“Money needs to be raised where it can be found,” Profughi said. “Given the very limited geographic size of our state, raising the funds required to compete in a meaningful fashion virtually required any candidate running for a national office to go outside Rhode Island to raise required money. “
In the Presidential race, President Obama still has large local fundraising advantage over any of his potential Republican opponents. At 284,688, the President has received more than double the money of any GOP candidate, with only Romney coming closest at nearly $124,000. The former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, has received less than $2,500, according to Open Secrets.
Obama Leads Romney
Local Republicans have mostly shown support for the former Massachusetts governor, with Doherty and former Governor Don Carcieri having publicly endorsed Romney. The consensus has long been that Romney is the candidate with the best chances of defeating Obama in November.
According to Darrell West, Vice President and Director of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution in Washington D.C., Romney is the opponent Obama should fear most.
“Romney is the Republican with the best chance of defeating President Obama,” he said. “He has the strongest appeal among the moderates likely to decide this race. Rhode Island voters are helping him because they see him as the most electable Republican.”
GOP Leader: Obama Not Working
Obama has raised nearly $300,000 from Rhode Islanders in 2011, with maximum contributions coming from prominent figures like outgoing Brown University President Ruth Simmons, former Providence Mayor Joe Paolino and top Democratic fundraiser Mark Weiner.
But Patrick Sweeney, the State GOP executive director, said he believes Rhode Islanders are beginning to turn on the President.
“President Obama told us in 2009, ‘There's no excuse--I’m not going to make any excuses. If stuff hasn't worked and people don't feel like I’ve led the country in the right direction, then you'll have a new president,’” Sweeney said. “It is clear Obama Isn’t Working and the taxpayer’s voice will be heard on November 6th.”
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