WASHINGTON (AP) - From the founder of Slim-Fast diet shakes to actress Jane Fonda, Al Gore has attracted several six-figure donations to finance his legal challenges in Florida's contested presidential election.

Gore on Thursday disclosed for the first time the donors to his recount committee, and many of the names on the list are well known to the Democratic Party.

Likewise, George W. Bush, who disclosed his donors earlier, received contributions from at least 73 people who previously raised a minimum of $100,000 for his campaign.

The vice president has raised $3.5 million for the recount battle, less than half the $7.4 million taken in by Bush. The Texas governor has received at least 368 donations of $5,000, the maximum amount he will accept;Gore has no limits, but has received 115 donations of $5,000 or more, including $500,000 from Steven Kirsch, founder of the Internet company InfoSeek.com.

Many of the donors on Gore's list are frequent contributors to the Democratic Party. Slim-Fast founder S.Daniel Abraham, who has given $1.1 million to the party and its candidates since Jan. 1, 1999, contributed $100,000 to Gore's recount committee. Gore received $50,000 from Peter Buttenweiser of Philadelphia,another seven-figure Democratic donor, and $25,000 from Fred Eychaner of Chicago, who has put $561,000 in Democratic coffers. And Houston trial lawyer John O'Quinn, a $205,000 contributor to the party, gave Gore $200,000.

Other big donors to Gore's recount committee included Fonda, who gave $100,000, and California screenwriter Stephen Bing, who gave $200,000. Bing, who wrote a $1 million check to the Democratic National Convention's host committee this summer, was an executive producer of Sylvester Stallone's recent movie "Get Carter."

Gore also received $25,000 from Sen.-elect Jon Corzine of New Jersey, who spent more than $60 million of his own money to win election Nov. 7 while contributing another $423,575 to the Democratic Party. Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle's political action committee kicked in $5,000, as did the political action committee of the International Association of Firefighters.

So did a Republican, environmentalist Larry Rockefeller, who gave $5,000. Rockefeller is the nephew of the late New York governor, whose name was synonymous with the GOP's liberal wing.

While Gore and Bush raised money to finance their recount operations, they drained their campaign bank accounts. Bush had just $1.3 million of his original $67.6 million left as of Nov. 27. Gore had $2.2 million in the bank but still owed $1.5 million.

The Bush campaign also raised $2 million to pay for legal and accounting expenses, giving it $6.8 million in the bank as of Nov. 27. Gore raised $852,956 and had $9.2 million remaining in his legal and accounting fund.

In addition to the candidates, the Democratic and Republican parties reported spending millions in the closing weeks of the 2000 elections.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spent $17.3 million during the last three weeks of the fall campaign, slightly more than the $15.8 million reported by its Republican counterpart.

Senate Democrats gained four seats Nov. 7 and are tied with the GOP at 50 seats apiece.

Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee said it spent $57 million after Oct. 18, most of it by Nov. 7. The RNC is continuing to raise money, taking in $13.2 million last month. Between Oct. 18 and Nov. 27, the RNC raised $48 million.

"Republicans, independents and open-minded Democrats are excited about Governor Bush and the Republican Party's positive plans for smaller, smarter government and increased opportunity for all Americans," RNC Chairman Jim Nicholson said. "And their enthusiasm has been showing in their generous contributions to the RNC."

The Democratic National Committee said it raised $42.7 million between Oct. 18 and Nov. 27.

"Our fund-raising success reaffirms the American people's belief that Democrats are right on the issues and their abiding faith in Al Gore and Joe Lieberman's ability to lead this nation with civility and honor," DNC National Chairman Joe Andrew said.

-- capnfun (capnfun1@excite.com), December 08, 2000

Answers

BTW,this was the header that went with the story but I failed to see the logic or journalistic merit of including it,as either a header or as a pertinent factor contributing to the story.

"Fonda Among Actors Helping Gore"

-- capnfun (capnfun1@excite.com), December 08, 2000.