By Shelley Kofler
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-665102.mp3
Dallas –
Some of the biggest Presidential fundraisers live in North Texas and they were closely following the results in New Hampshire. KERA's Shelley Kofler talked to fundraisers for the two candidates who've raised the most Lone Star money- Hillary Clinton and Rudy Guilliani. How important will that money be as candidates now blitz across the country?
-----
Kofler:
Through the end of last year, Texans had given Republican Rudy Giuliani's campaign more than 4-point 6 million dollars. In fact, Dallas, ranks second only to New York City for metro areas where the former Mayor is cashing in.
That may be because Guiliani's national campaign finance chairman, Roy Bailey, lives in Dallas, and has deep contacts in the political community. He's the managing director of Giuliani Partners and former finance chair for the Republican Party of Texas. In an interview with KERA he defended the strategy for Guiliani's spending little time wooing early voters in Iowa and New Hampshire, while traveling extensively to delegate rich states like Florida.
Roy Bailey:(talks about Giuliani's strategy and the importance of money)
Bailey says Guiliani's lackluster showing in New Hampshire and Iowa may affect additional donations some, but Bailey claims the campaign has plenty to buy the TV advertising needed to compete where it counts.
Hillary Clinton fundraiser Jess Hay, of Dallas, says the New York Senator's bulging campaign bank account will allow her to be competitive as the primary schedule races forward. As a longtime financial backer of Democrats, the former chairman of Lomas Financial in Dallas, has helped Clinton collect more than 3-million in Texas. Hay says Clinton donors are concerned about the war in Iraq, health care availability and devisive partisanship. He believes media speculation about her survivability could fundraising, but says the real Presidential campaign is just beginning.
(Jess Hay talks about difficulty in raising money if candidate is not doing well in the polls, and about Mrs. Clinton's support)
Kofler:
Hay says money from Texas and Clinton's war chest should allow her to get her message out and survive a shakey start.
Shelley Kofler KERA News
You can hear more from Presidential fundraisers in Texas and voters here tonight at 6:00 when KERA 90.1 airs a special report: Texas and the Presidential election, a Voters Voice Special.