Napa dollars go to Obama

Local donors favor Democrats by wide margin

By JILLIAN JONES
Register Staff Writer

President-elect Barack Obama raised $3 in Napa County for every $1 raised by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., according to campaign finance figures.

Obama raised a reported $339,606 in Napa County, and McCain raised $106,245. Napa County also contributed $228,300 to the Democratic National Committee, and $25,200 to the Republican National Committee.

Overall, Napa County has raised $1.6 million for various federal campaigns in the last two years, according to OpenSecrets.org, a Web site that tracks campaign donations and spending. The site is run by the nonprofit Center for Responsive Politics in Washington, D.C.

Donations less than $200 were not reported, and contributions to local and state elections are not included in OpenSecrets.org’s calculations.

The heavy fundraising follows a series of high-profile visits to Napa County this year. President George W. Bush attended a private fundraiser at Harlan Estate in July, raising a reported $850,000 for the RNC, though all or even most of that money did not necessarily come from Napa County residents.

The dinner was Bush’s second visit to Napa County since 2006.

Former Vice President Al Gore came to Napa in September to raise money for Obama. He attended two fundraisers, one at Copia and a more exclusive event at Staglin Family Vineyard. Between tickets to both events, Gore raised an estimated $1.6 million for Obama and the DNC.

In January, President Bill Clinton stumped for his wife Hillary at the Napa Valley Opera House.

Obama had been scheduled to visit the valley this summer, but the private event was canceled.

Candidates’ attention to Napa County appears to have paid off. OpenSecrets.org calculates that St. Helena contributed about nine times more than the average U.S. zip code in federal campaign contributions over the last two years: The estimated average contribution per zip code is just under $50,000; St. Helena contributed almost $450,000.

Of that, Obama raised $102,700 in St. Helena and McCain raised $35,200.

The biggest fundraiser in Napa County was the 94558 zip code, which stretches from east Napa to Rutherford. Residents of this area raised $580,000, 12 times more than the average zip code.

Between the three zip codes that represent the city of Napa, Obama raised $160,000 and McCain raised $60,000.

Obama raised more than McCain in every Napa County zip code, according to the reports.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., raised $135,880 in Napa County, including $64,000 from Napa and $44,120 from St. Helena. In Rutherford, Clinton raised more money than even Obama, with $14,300 compared to Obama’s $8,400. McCain raised no money in Rutherford, according to the reports.

Top contributions in the county listed on OpenSecrets.org include a total of $42,300 from Charlene and Bruce Bainum of Angwin, both listed as professors at Pacific Union College. Of the $42,300, $28,500 went to the DNC and the rest went to Obama directly. Brooke Bainum of Angwin, listed as a student, also contributed $1,000 to Obama.

Garen and Shari Staglin, who own Staglin Family Vineyard in Rutherford, gave $36,240 to the DNC, according to the reports. Ten thousand dollars went specifically to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The Staglins also contributed a reported $4,600 to Clinton.

Vintners Craig and Kathryn Hall of Rutherford gave a total of $50,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, reports show.

C. Paul Johnson of Napa, owner of Astrale e Terra Winery and a former executive at Napa Community Bank, is listed as giving three checks in the sum of $67,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Napa County contributed $220,600 to Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, who raised almost $674,600 total in the last two years, according to OpenSecrets.org.

Napa Valley Register Copyright © 2009