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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   Campaign finance reports online To read the candidates' campaign finance reports, go to www.pdc.wa.gov.   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Dino Rossi leads fundraising race in Snohomish County By Jerry Cornfield, Herald Writer OLYMPIA -- Fundraising in the battle for governor continued at a prolific pace in April, with Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire and Republican challenger Dino Rossi raking in a combined $2 million. Gregoire set the quicker tempo last month, hauling in $1.32 million to Rossi's total of $640,000, according to campaign finance reports made public Monday. As a result, Gregoire started May with $3.86 million in cash on hand while Rossi had $3.1 million, the records show. But in Snohomish County, where Rossi outpolled Gregoire in 2004, he is outraising her -- just as he did the last time. "Frankly it's been remarkable how responsive people have been," said Tom Hoban of Everett, owner of Coast Real Estate Services and a leader of Rossi's finance team in the county. Rossi received $348,000 from county donors from October, when he declared, through the end of April. By May 5, the total had reached $354,453 -- $5,000 more than he garnered in Snohomish County in the entire 2004 election. "The reaction that we're getting is that many more people are contributing this time around," said former congressional candidate Doug Roulstone of Snohomish, another member of Rossi's fundraising squad. Gregoire banked $200,237 from Snohomish County donors from the time she took office through April 30. She expects to top the $235,833 detailed in reports to the state Public Disclosure Commission. "I think there are a lot of new people giving," said Connie Niva of Everett, a Gregoire fundraiser. Trailing in the cash race in the county in May is not a concern because Gregoire could not seek money during the legislative session, said Niva, a Port of Everett commissioner and Washington State University regent. Voters will be focusing on issues of importance to the county, such as the governor's support for opening a University of Washington branch campus in the community, she said. "It isn't all about money in Snohomish County," she said. Four years ago, this was a $12.6 million battle with Gregoire and Rossi pulling in slightly more than $6 million apiece. In the rematch, the two have already combined to amass $10.5 million. Gregoire is the overall leader. The latest reports show she's raised $6 million since assuming power; Rossi's total to date is $4.5 million. Money is pivotal to getting out one's message, and, in politics, the level of fundraising is viewed as a gauge of a candidate's viability. The latest numbers prove Gregoire and Rossi are both viable and their campaign fundraising is recession-proof. Once the fundraising freeze thawed, Gregoire successfully tapped donors in April at small events around the state and a major fete in Seattle headlined by former presidential candidate and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. "We're excited at the level of support the governor is seeing across the state," said Aaron Toso, a Gregoire campaign spokesman. While she was having a good month raising money, Rossi racked up his number of individual contributors. In that category, he's already eclipsed his 2004 mark. On May 8, he telephoned Norman Brocard of Clinton to thank him for being the 32,000th contributor to the campaign. In 2004, Rossi received donations from 30,476 different donors. Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.

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