GOP Collects Cash Flow From Local Contributors
by August 7, 2000 12:00 am 55 views
Even before his July 28 visit to Springdale, Republican Presidential front-runner George W. Bush had nearly triple the financial support from Northwest Arkansas’ urban voters than that of any other candidate.
According to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission in Washington, D.C., the Texas governor had through July 1 received $44,100 from the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers MSA, or Metropolitan Statistical Area. Democratic presidential hopeful, Vice President Al Gore, received $11,650 from the same MSA.
No other candidates were close.
Breaking down contributions of $200 or more by county, the Republicans received $292,014 through July 1 from Benton County. That’s about 92 percent of the total funds that county donated. Voters in Bentonville, Rogers, Lowell, Siloam Springs, Pea Ridge and Eureka Springs gave the Democrats $24,495, or less than 8 percent of the overall amount.
Washington County gave $106,550 to the Republicans, or about 67 percent of its total. Together, Fayetteville, Springdale, Prairie Grove, Farmington, Elkins and Tontitown gave 32 percent or $51,744 to the Democrats.
Gore got 59 percent of the donations from Carroll County. Bush got 69 percent of the total from Madison County.
Bush was also the statewide leader, receiving $628,429 to Gore’s $204,045 during the same span. Other MSAs where Bush led include Fort Smith, with Bush getting $33,974 to Gore’s $5,650; Jonesboro (Bush $8,700, Gore $3,250); Pine Bluff (Bush $15,750, Gore $4,750) and Texarkana (Bush $90,749, Gore $22,800).
Gore was the big winner in the Memphis, Tenn., MSA, getting $298,000 to Bush’s $220,050. That area takes in parts of Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi.