Bush Still Ahead In Money Race

While underdogs Bill Bradley and John McCain showed new fund-raising strength during the last three months of 1999, Texas Gov. George W. Bush once again took in more money than the rest of the field.

Bush reported today that he had raised more than $10 million between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, bringing his record-setting total to more than $67 million. He has an estimated $31.4 million in the bank.

Bradley, meanwhile, doubled Vice President Al Gore's fund raising efforts during the last three months of 1999 and heads into the new year with almost as much campaign money as his Democratic opponent.Having raised more than $8 million between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, Bradley has amassed more than $27 million for his attempt at the party's presidential nomination next year.

Gore raised just $4 million during the three-month period and has collected more than $28 million, although he has taken in an additional $2.7 million to pay legal and accounting costs for the general election.

Gore campaign aides said last fall the vice president was winding down his fund raising and would take in around $4 million in the last quarter of the year. That was all he needed, they said, since campaigns that accept federal money can spend no more than around $40 million. Indeed, the Gore campaign said it expects to receive $12.1 million in federal funds, which will put him at the $40 million figure.

His campaign found a roundabout way of crediting Bradley's surge to Gore.

"It's one more validation of the strength of the Clinton-Gore economy," spokesman Chris Lehane said. "You have more people than ever before able to contribute."

McCain, R-Ariz., who shared a stage with Bradley in New Hampshire to talk about overhauling campaign finance laws, also surged in the last quarter of 1999. He raised more than $6.1 million, twice as much as he took in during the preceding three months, July 1 to Sept. 30. McCain's boost in fund raising mirrors his rise in opinion polls. McCain is ahead or at least tied with Bush in several New Hampshire surveys.

Thanks to the strong last quarter, McCain reported $13.6 million in donations, plus an additional $2 million transferred from his Senate campaign funds. The Arizona senator also expects to receive $6.2 million in federal money, bringing his year-end total to almost $22 million.

Still, Bush has spent more in the fourth quarter - $17 million - than McCain raised for the year.

Of the recent success Bradley has seen, a spokesman said "Our ability to meet and exceed our goals is due in large part to a high level of support for Bill Bradley at the grass-roots level and is a clear demonstration of our strength throughout all parts of the country."

Analysts said Bradley's fund-raising strength does not bode well for the vice president.

"A lot of people are just not excited about Gore," said Candice Nelson, an associate professor of political science at American University. "Bradley seemdifferent. Ultimately they may come around for Gore. But for now, they're willing to give Bradley a chance and see if he can make something of this race."