Kerry to visit for fund-raiser

By David Postman
Seattle Times chief political reporter

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The event at the Westin Hotel on Aug. 27 will cost a minimum of $1,000 a person, according to an invitation to the fund-raiser.

Seattle has been generous to Kerry and groups working to defeat President Bush. Some of the nation's top donors live in the area.

The event has already attracted big money. At least 14 people have agreed to raise $50,000 each to be named co-chairs of the dinner and get a special invitation to a private reception with Kerry, according to an e-mail sent to Seattle donors.

The campaign would not confirm the visit yesterday, and no other appearances by Kerry during the visit have been announced.

The candidate will be in Portland tomorrow at the end of his coast-to-coast tour with running mate John Edwards. The original plan had Kerry making several Washington state stops as part of the tour, but those plans changed last week.

Also tomorrow, President Bush will be in Portland and later in Medina for a fund-raiser.

This will be Kerry's first visit to the state since formally being nominated as the Democrats' candidate.

Federal campaign-finance laws prohibit the spending of privately raised money in the time between the party's nominating convention and Election Day. Instead, the campaigns must rely on federal public funding.

The money raised at the Seattle event will not go directly to the Kerry campaign. It is for a fund called "Kerry-Edwards Victory 2004," whose name is on the invitation.

Up to $25,000 of each donation will go to the Democratic National Committee.
 
The committee is paying to air television commercials promoting Kerry while his campaign suspends its own TV ads this month to conserve the public funds for a last-minute push.

Supporters who give $10,000 or raise $20,000 from others will get a photo with Kerry. For $2,000, "Gold Circle Guests" get "priority seating" at the evening event, and for $1,000, a "Silver Circle Guest" will get general seating.

The e-mail to supporters said the goal is to raise $1.5 million by Election Day.

David Postman: 360-943-9882 or dpostman@seattletimes.com