Ex-candidates are giving back to those who gave

A liberal dose

March 25, 2008

Some North Texans don't have to file their tax returns to get big refund checks in the mail.

Dozens of area residents who donated to the campaigns of Republicans Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani are getting some of that money back.

After ending their presidential bids in February, Romney and Giuliani began returning $84,920 and $53,200, respectively, to Tarrant County donors, according to a Star-Telegram analysis of Federal Election Commission data.

'It's a very interesting action on the part of Mitt Romney and Rudolph Giuliani that their people sent back donations they didn't use,' said Allan Saxe, an associate political science professor at the University of Texas at Arlington. 'It's a noble action on their part.

'Once those donors get that money back in the mail, it should make them feel very good about the candidates they originally supported.'

Candidates can legally use those donations for everything from paying campaign debt to funding bids for another federal office, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

With Giuliani and Romney out, presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain for the first time became the top money-getter in Tarrant County in both February and overall, the analysis shows.

McCain has raised $437,473 in Tarrant County during this presidential race -- $211,087 in February alone.

That may be partly because at least five local donors who received refunds from Romney or Giuliani are believed to have donated the same amount or more to McCain's campaign, records show.

One of those listed, lawyer Dee Kelly, said, 'I gave money to McCain because I wanted to, not because I got a refund from anybody.' Kelly has donated to several candidates.

The other local donors could not be reached for comment Monday.

Presidential candidates who drop out of the race cannot use their campaign funds for personal expenses.

Under federal guidelines, they can either give the donations back within 60 days after dropping out or get donors' permission to use the money for something else, such as a charity, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

'This shows that Giuliani and Romney were really pretty honorable people,' Saxe said. 'Some people loan their own money to the campaign and then pay it back through donations. But they're returning money, and they're doing it quickly.'

More money news

Refunds: Nationwide in February, Romney refunded $3.6 million and Giuliani $3.1 million. Many refunds noted on February FEC reports were in $2,300 chunks, the maximum donation allowed to a candidate's primary campaign, or in $4,600 chunks, the maximum allowed for both the primary and general election.

Democrats: During February, when both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were campaigning in Texas, Tarrant County residents contributed $105,409 to Clinton and $97,814 to Obama. In January, when analysts weren't sure whether there would be a fight for the nomination by the time Texans went to the polls, Obama raised $44,551 and Clinton $14,292. U.S. Rep. Chris Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat who left the race after the Iowa caucus in January, raised $150.

Republicans: Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee -- the Fort Worth-trained pastor turned politician -- raised $17,709 locally, followed by U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Surfside, who received $11,026.

Online: www.star-telegram.com/ elections

LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Presidential campaign contributions in the Tarrant County area in February include:

Candidate Party Amount John McCain R $211,087 Hillary Clinton D $105,409 Barack Obama D $97,814 Mike Huckabee R $17,709 Ron Paul R $11,026 Chris Dodd D $150 Rudy Giuliani R ($53,200)* Mitt Romney R ($84,920)*

*Amount refunded to donors

Source: Star-Telegram analysis of Federal Election Commission reports

Leftover money

After presidential candidates drop out of the race, there are restrictions on what they can do with the money that remains. Among their options:

Return it to donors.

Give to a charity they are not affiliated with.

Transfer funds to party committees.

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