Gore Gets Record Amount of Taxpayer Funds

W A S H I N G T O N, Aug. 21 -- Vice President Al Gore last month became the first presidential candidate to receive $15 million in taxpayer money for nomination expenses, monthly campaign finance reports show.

Gore, who agreed to limit his spending to $40.5 million in exchange for matching federal funds, received an additional $673,000 in July, bringing his total to $15.3 million, according to records filed Sunday with the Federal Election Commission.

During the party primaries, the federal government matches the first $250 of each individual contribution for presidential candidates who limit their spending. Candidates were held this year to a maximum of $16.9 million in such funds.

Republican nominee George W. Bush, who unlike Democrat Gore declined matching funds so he could spend as much as he could raise, set his own record in July by breaking the $100 million mark for fund-raising.

Gore Bests Dole’s Record

Gore’s matching-funds record eclipsed the $13.5 million mark setby 1996 GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole.

“We did a very good job getting people excited about supportingthe campaign and raising small donations from individuals,” Gorecampaign spokesman Douglas Hattaway said.

Gore also raised $85,000 for his campaign in July, bringing his total toabout $37 million, excluding the federal funds.

During the same month, Bush raised about $4.3 million in contributions, which combined with money raised for a legal and accounting fund pushed his total to $100.1 million. He spent $9.6 million in July, bringing his total spending to $97.2 million.

The past record for fund-raising in a single presidential race belonged to Ross Perot, who for the general election in 1992 took in $72.8 million, nearly all from his own pocket.