April 15, 1999
Web posted at: 6:03 p.m. EDT (2203 GMT)

WASHINGTON (April 15) -- As presidential hopefuls engage in a fierce horse race in the money race, they faced a deadline Thursday for filing their first quarter financial reports with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

There's some revealing information in those files, and a bit of a surprise on the Republican side.

Texas Gov. George W. Bush is doing even better financially than he let on earlier. Bush had said he raised $7 million by the March 31 cut-off date for the first FEC report.

But the most recent numbers show he actually raised $7.6 million -- and did it in only 28 days, after announcing he was exploring the possibility of running.

The lion's share came from 5,237 donors who gave $1,000 each -- the legal maximum. That's $5.2 million of the total $7.6.

Just over half -- 54 percent -- of the total came from Texas, but Bush is getting strong support from around the country as well. And he didn't spend very much so he still had $6.8 million in cash, and practically no debt, making Bush the big gorilla on the GOP side.

Sen. John McCain showed a healthy report: $2.8 million in cash against only $500,000 in debts.

And Elizabeth Dole was also in the black with $500,000 in cash and $113,000 in debts.

But other Republicans aren't doing nearly so well.

Dan Quayle, who announced officially Wednesday, also had a half a million dollars in cash but owed more than $675,000. That puts his campaign in the red, but it's due to heavy fund-raising costs -- an investment that may pay off later.

Lamar Alexander was even farther in debt. He had less that $90,000 in cash and debts of more than $200,000.

Gary Bauer's in the black, but barely. He has $490,000 in cash and debts of $425,000.

Also in the plus-column: Pat Buchanan with $326,000 in cash against $112,000 in debts.

Steve Forbes is still financing his campaign out of his own pocket, spending $694,000 of his own money so far.

And for the record, New Hampshire Sen. Bob Smith reports $60,000 in cash and no debt.

The Democratic race is a two-man contest, with Vice President Al Gore dominating the money, as expected.

Gore's report showed he raised $8.9 million by the end of March, including $6.1 million from 6,145 donors who gave $1,000 each. And he had $6.9 million in cash at the end of the period, with very little debt.

The surprise on the Democratic side is how well Bill Bradley is doing against an incumbent vice president.

Bradley raised $4.3 million, including $3.6 million from donors giving $1,000 each. He ended well in the black with cash on hand of $2.9 million and zero debt.

Thursday, April 15, 1999

• Capitol Hill pushes for cost of Kosovo
• Poll: Support for NATO strikes, and ground troops, growing
• FEC reports: Gore and Bush dominate the race for campaign funds
• Congress approves $1.74 trillion budget for FY 2000
• Elizabeth Dole heading to the Balkans
• Poll: Kosovo has little impact on 2000 landscape
• China trade deal back on track, Congress still poses hurdle
• Diabetic congressman pushes stamp to raise research money
• Impeachment cost at least $1.2 million; some paid $20,000 a month
• House Democrats begin signature drive on campaign finance
• House sends census review bill to Senate
• Gingrich resumes Washington political career
• First lady writing about White House entertaining
• Briefs: House Dems raise record funds; Forbes online; Author Gephardt
• Analysis: Congress complains but doesn't act to fix complex tax code

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