Isles shelling out for presidential bids

We present a list of local donors to the presidential campaigns, and where the money's flowing

» Click for downloadable PDF of the list of donors

Manoa, Makiki, Kailua and Kahala are where the Democratic presidential candidates are going for money.

The Republicans are finding their big campaign bucks in Waimea and Kailua.

Those findings come from an analysis of the latest quarterly cumulative tally of donations to the Democratic and Republican candidates for president.

In total, Hawaii residents have given $219,316 to presidential candidates as of June 30. Democratic candidates scooped up most of the money: $157,330.

The figures reported to the Federal Elections Commission show that Hawaii-born Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is the name on most of the campaign checks written here. Hawaii donors gave Obama $98,246.

HAWAII DONATIONS Total donations from Hawaii residents to presidential candidates through June 30. All Candidates -- $219,316 Democrats -- $157,330 Republicans -- $61,986 Obama (D) -- $98,246 Clinton (D) -- $22,560 Edwards (D) -- $21,764 Romney (R) -- $18,210 McCain (R) -- $15,690 Giuliani (R) -- $13,876 Richardson (D) -- $9,150 Paul (R) -- -- $5,625 Tancredo (R) -- $3,400 Brownback (R) -- $2,985 Biden (D) -- $2,550 Kucinich (D) -- $2,060 Hunter (R) -- $1,700 Dodd (D) -- $1,000 Thompson (R) -- $500 Source: Federal Elections Commission

Democratic New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is in second place with $22,560.

Obama campaign spokesman Brian Schatz says the campaign donations are coming both through Obama's Internet site and from local campaign volunteers calling for money.

"We have two very simple goals, first to win the Hawaii caucus on Feb. 19 and then to raise as much money as possible," Schatz, a former state representative, said.

Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, spokeswoman for the Clinton campaign, said Clinton hasn't made a significant effort to raise money in Hawaii.

"We are trying to solidify what we think is the natural base for Hillary and that is among Democrats. I think the Obama camp is spending a lot of time looking for new members," Hanabusa said.

Supporters such as 83-year-old Marian Charlton in Holualoa on the Big Island says she ran across Clinton's Web site and became a donor.

"After I got on her Web site and I began to hear her positions, I thought they were so harmonious, balanced and doable, I wanted to support her," Charlton, a retired teacher, said.

Cruising on the Web resulted in Charlton making six donations totaling $370. She explained that as she read about what Clinton said she needed money for, she would give another donation.

"She let us in on what she was doing and I am not one to just drop money, but I said, yes, I support that action, here's the money for it.

"This is a campaign I am passionate about," Charlton said.

In Manoa, Mary Sanford, also retired, heard about Obama after his speech at the 2006 Democratic National Convention, and started tracking him on the Web.

"It sounded like he had new ideas and new directions and I thought that is what we need," Sanford said.

"I think he is an intelligent and fresh voice," said Sanford, who gave two donations of $300 each in April.

On the Republican side, Hawaii residents contributed $61,986 to eight candidates as of June 30, more than triple the amount donated in the first quarter of 2007, when four GOP candidates received $18,981.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leads the pack among GOP hopefuls in Hawaii, with $18,210. He generated $12,010 in the last three months.

Romney's support was virtually all from Oahu, with the biggest contributions coming from a handful of donors in the Makiki-Manoa and Kailua areas.

Arizona Sen. John McCain was next among the Republicans, having collected $15,690 in the past six months -- $10,910 since the end of March.

As expected, the former Vietnam prisoner of war enjoyed support from traditional military areas such as Kaneohe, Kailua, Aiea and Pearl City.

Although not receiving as many large donations as Romney, McCain's campaign generated dozens more smaller contributions in the $25-to-$100 range.

Those contributors include Elmer Botsai, 79, of Hawaii Kai, an architect who has made five contributions to McCain's campaign totaling $950.

"I just think that if somebody's worth something I try to give them a little money," Botsai said. "I know his history -- he was in Vietnam, he was in a concentration camp for years and came out of it alive.

"He's a supergood senator and I think he'd make a great president."

Both McCain and Romney surpassed former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who led GOP hopefuls here at the end of March with $6,501 and ended the June reporting period with $13,876.

Other Republican candidates who have received campaign contributions from Hawaii residents are Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul ($5,625), Colorado U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo ($3,400), Kansas U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback ($2,985), California U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter ($1,700) and former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson ($500).

"I think the fact that there are so many candidates still in play right now -- it's interesting," said Miriam Hellreich, the Republican Party national committeewoman from Hawaii.

"I think that shows eclectic and how diverse our party is. ... That's interesting that there is such a broad spread of support. It's not just to two or three candidates."

Hawaii Republican Party Chairman Willes Lee said he was encouraged by the participation in the national races.

"The campaigns, as best I can tell, have not done any extensive campaigning in Hawaii," Lee said. "I'm pleased that Hawaii voters are as participatory in those races as they are in ours."

Lee said none of the campaigns have contacted him about a possible swing through heavily Democratic Hawaii, although Hellreich said she wouldn't rule it out.

In 2004, when some polls showed a close race between President Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry, both camps sent representatives -- Vice President Dick Cheney and Kerry's daughter, Alex, respectively -- to rally support in the islands.

Hellreich noted that both Giuliani and McCain have visited Hawaii in the past to assist with fundraisers for Gov. Linda Lingle.

"There has been interest in helping Hawaii in the past by both of those candidates and I think there's a good chance that there would be again in the future," she said.