Gov. Raising Funds Fast; $1.1M More Comes From Outside N.M.

BYLINE: TRIP JENNINGS Journal Capitol Bureau

SANTA FE - Gov. Bill Richardson continues to raise out-of-state money for his re-election effort at a fast clip, his latest campaign finance report shows.

The governor received more than $1.1 million from July 2 through Oct. 2 in out-of-state contributions larger than $1,000. He raised $3.1 million in contributions during the same period.

Some of those out-of-state contributions include:

$50,000 from Indiana developer Bren Simon.

$100,000 contributions from the Laborers Political League Education Fund and the American Federation of Teachers, both of Washington, D.C.

$25,000 contributions from Bernard Schwartz, HL Capital and Drug Policy Alliance Network of New York and from the Service Employees International Union of Washington, D.C.

$20,000 from Quadrant Management Inc. of New York City.

The $1.1 million in large donations is in addition to thousands of small donations Richardson's campaign has collected from 48 other states - only Alaska wasn't represented - during the same period, meaning his campaign's out-of-state net could be larger.

Richardson's campaign said in a news release Tuesday that more than 4,000 individuals from around the country joined 1,857 New Mexicans in giving to the governor's re-election effort in the past three months.

Richardson, a potential presidential candidate in 2008, said the fundraising was not related to any national political aspirations.

"It's more targeted to New Mexico and to my Democratic governors initiative," Richardson said. As chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, Richardson has campaigned for numerous Democratic candidates across the country.

"But if I were ever to become a national candidate, you have to be able to raise money nationally," Richardson said.

The governor has said he would announce in January whether he will run for president in 2008.

Richardson's Republican opponent, John Dendahl, reported raising just more than $205,000 during the same period.

Dendahl acknowledged that his campaign was having trouble raising money, but he said it would close strongly in the days leading up to the Nov. 7 general election.

"We will use the $200,000 to make a closing statement, mostly by television," Dendahl said.

Some of the larger contributions Richardson received from New Mexicans during the past three months included:

$50,000 from SunRay Gaming of New Mexico, which came in two contributions;

$50,000 from the New Mexico Committee on Individual Responsibility, which represents the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association;

$50,000 from Hobbs-based Controlled Recovery Inc., an environmental company;

$20,000 from The Downs at Albuquerque casino and racetrack; and

$25,000 from Paul Blanchard, who operates The Downs at Albuquerque.