Gregoire campaign coffers growing in gubernatorial bid

By Ralph Thomas
Seattle Times Olympia bureau

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By the end of last month, Gregoire had raised more than $1.1 million — nearly four times as much as her closest rivals.

But here's an even more remarkable statistic: With help from a powerful national women's group, Gregoire has received more than $360,000 in campaign donations from thousands of people outside Washington state. In fact, her out-of-state donations alone surpassed the total raised by any other candidate for governor.

Starting today, however, Gregoire will have to put her dash for campaign cash on hold until at least April.

As a state official, she is barred from raising money from 30 days before the legislative session until 30 days after it adjourns.

Though none of her opponents will be hobbled by the freeze, Gregoire said she welcomes the respite.

"We have been by necessity focusing all of our attention on fund raising," she said. "I'm really looking forward to spending four months on policy development."

Gregoire entered the governor's race in July, hours after Gov. Gary Locke announced he would not seek a third term.

Since then, Gregoire has hosted dozens of fund-raisers across the state, ranging from small gatherings in people's homes to a 400-person bash at Seahawks Stadium. She has spent hours on the phone hitting up supporters, business leaders and special-interest groups for donations.

And she enlisted veteran Democratic fund-raiser Tracy Newman, who worked for former President Clinton and the national Democratic Party before setting up shop in Seattle nearly four years ago.

The result: Gregoire went from zero to $1.1 million in just over four months. When Locke first ran in 1996, it took him nearly twice as long to raise that much.

Gregoire's closest Democratic competitor is King County Executive Ron Sims, who by last month had raised $326,000. Former state Supreme Court Justice Phil Talmadge was lagging far behind at $143,000, even after putting $65,000 of his own money into his campaign last month.

On the Republican side, state Sen. Dino Rossi of Sammamish is off to a fast start, raising more than $300,000 during the first month of his bid to become the state's first Republican governor in 20 years.

"It's going remarkably well," Rossi said. "People sense an opportunity for change."

Both Rossi and Gregoire figure it will take as much as $5 million to run an effective campaign.

Rossi announced last week he would resign his Senate seat to focus full time on his campaign. Gregoire's campaign accused him of sidestepping the fund-raising freeze and said he should stay in the Legislature instead of "hustling special interests for money."

But none of the candidates for governor has taken in more special-interest money than Gregoire.

Some of the biggest donors, such as labor unions, still are waiting to weigh in. State Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt said that during these early stages of the governor's race, candidates are judged by how much money they can raise. He said it's a test of viability.

"(Gregoire) is certainly winning by that measure," Berendt said. "And that's important."

Though it's still early, some clear patterns are emerging in the money race.

Gregoire, for example, has received nearly $40,000 from people who identified themselves as state employees. Sims has received nearly $20,000 from King County employees.

Rossi, by contrast, has received less than $1,000 from people who listed their occupation as state employee. Nearly 20 percent of his money came from Bellevue, home to many of the state's most prominent Republican business leaders.

But the most striking trend so far is Gregoire's heavy reliance on out-of-state money.

Of the more than 8,100 individual donations Gregoire received through last month, more than 40 percent were from people in other states. She has received checks from people in all 50 states and the nation's capital, including more than $64,000 from California and $51,000 from New York.

Gregoire's out-of-state donations already have matched the total raised outside Washington in 2000 by Locke, who got checks from people in 35 states.

Rossi criticized Gregoire for taking so much money from people who can't vote in this state.

"I'm not interested in having people from other states controlling our elections here," said Rossi, who thus far has only a handful of out-of-state donations totaling less than $15,000.

Gregoire defended her out-of-state fund raising and said the deluge of donations is a reflection of the national reputation she built during her three terms as attorney general.

"I'm not embarrassed; I'm actually very proud of that," said Gregoire, who played a lead role in the $206 billion settlement between 46 states and tobacco companies in 1998.

Gregoire also is getting a huge boost through her endorsement from Emily's List, a national group that raises millions to help elect pro-choice Democratic women to federal and state offices. The group has thrown its clout behind dozens of successful candidates over the past 15 years, including U.S. Sens. Patty Murray, Maria Cantwell, Dianne Feinstein and Hillary Clinton.

When Emily's List endorses a candidate, the group sends out mailers and e-mail messages urging donations from its 73,000 members nationwide.

On its Web site, the group touts Gregoire's work on the tobacco settlement and portrays her as the strongest Democrat for the job. The group warns that President Bush is eager to get a Republican elected governor in Washington and cautions that Rossi opposes abortion rights and earned a top grade from the National Rifle Association.

Emily's List members can make donations directly through the group's Web site.

"That's one of the beauties of being endorsed by Emily's List," said Melissa Shiffman, the group's spokeswoman. "You reach people who otherwise wouldn't know about your campaign."

Ralph Thomas: 360-943-9882 or rthomas@seattletimes.com

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