Biggest Donor Areas Go For Dems

— -- WASHINGTON — Democrats seeking the White House have received more than four times as much money from some of the nation's wealthiest enclaves as party contenders did in 2003, an analysis of campaign-finance records shows.

The major Democratic presidential candidates have raised nearly $32 million from the 50 ZIP codes that were the top sources of campaign money in the first six months of the year, the non-profit Center for Responsive Politics found. In contrast, Republicans received $13.8 million.

The analysis for USA TODAY shows Democrats raised the most money in 43 of the 50 postal codes. New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is the top recipient in 28 areas.

In the first half of 2003, John Kerry, Howard Dean and other Democrats who ran for president raised about $7.7 million from the top 50 donor ZIP codes. President Bush, who did not actively raise money until May of that year, collected nearly $6 million in that period.

The trend in giving from such upscale areas as Greenwich, Conn., is another sign of the financial advantage for the 2008 election enjoyed by Democrats, who have outraised their Republican counterparts by nearly $60 million.

"There's a lot of pent-up demand by Democrats to win back the White House," said John Green, a political scientist at the University of Akron in Ohio.

Because fewer than 1% of all Americans donate to presidential campaigns, the contributions from tony neighborhoods also highlight the influence that a tiny fraction of people will have on the contest.

"In some ways, this 2008 primary season won't be decided in the heartland or the swing states, but in Upper East Side apartments, Beverly Hills mansions and Palm Beach villas," center spokesman Massie Ritsch said. The analysis also found:

• Donors living in New York's 10021 ZIP code rank first, providing more than $4.5 million. That's up from $1.2 million in the first six months of 2003, when the area also was the top source of presidential money.

Clinton received the most, $1.4 million, followed by former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, a Republican, with $941,000.

Investment banker Jewelle Bickford, who gave $4,600 to the former first lady, said Clinton's Senate and White House experience make her the best candidate to cope with the Iraq war: "My support for her is totally pragmatic."

• Areas trying to boost native sons have emerged as top money sources. Donations to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama made Chicago's Gold Coast area No. 17 on the list. The 60610 ZIP code didn't make the list in 2003.

Neither did Paradise Valley, Ariz., where Arizona Sen. John McCain was its top recipient with $275,000.

"It takes more money to run for president," said developer John Graham, who donated $4,600 to McCain. "Everyone has ratcheted up their efforts to help."

• Three of the seven ZIP codes where Republicans have raised the most money are in Texas. Giuliani, a partner in a Houston-based law firm, was the leading recipient in all three.

• Some areas with close ties to Bush are no longer top sources of donations. Among them: North Dallas, where Bush lived before he was elected governor of Texas.