Oct 6, 2008 8:30 pm US/Pacific
California Gay Marriage Ban Attracts Big Money
SACRAMENTO (AP) ―
Supporters and opponents of a ballot initiative that would outlaw same-sex marriage in California have funneled $41.2 million into the race, more than the combined total spent in the 24 states where similar measures have gone before voters since 2004.
Campaign finance figures show supporters of the gay marriage ban have taken a significant lead in fundraising even though Proposition 8 has lagged in public opinion polls. ProtectMarriage.com reported taking in $25.4 million through Sept. 30 of this year compared to the $15.8 million in donations raised by the main committee opposing the measure.
"It shows there is tremendous grassroots support for what we are trying to do," said Frank Schubert, co-manager of the Yes on 8 campaign.
Schubert said more than 60,000 people and businesses have given money to help pass the initiative, which would amend the state Constitution to limit marriage to a man and a woman. He provided the figures Monday before the group filed its official fundraising report with the secretary of state's office to meet the reporting deadline.
Steve Smith, manager of Equality for All, predicted the bank accounts for the two sides would even up by Election Day on Nov. 4. He noted that when the last campaign finance reports were filed at the end of July, the proposition's opponents were ahead.
"What's happening is a little seesaw battle. I think by the end it's going to come down to a million (difference) one way or another," Smith said.
Both sides have set aside more than $10 million for television advertisements and plan to start airing their second round of ads this week. The fundraising advantage Proposition 8's supporters have at this point is reflected in the remaining cash on hand they reported having on Monday -- $12.8 million for the Yes camp, $1.8 million for the No side.
According to figures compiled by the National Organization on Money in State Politics, a little less than $33 million was spent on campaigns to pass or defeat gay marriage bans in the 24 states where they appeared on ballots in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Supporters of same-sex marriage had the fundraising edge in all of them, but voters approved all but one.
With a month to go until the election, fundraising by the two sides in the California campaign already has well exceeded that amount. By comparison, the most expensive gay marriage fight before now was in Colorado, where opponents and supporters spent $6.8 million in 2006.
"For an issue like this, it's a lot of money," Rachel Weiss, a spokeswoman for the national Organization on Money in State Politics said. "California is in its own universe."
The big money Proposition 8 is attracting reflects both California's size and the importance religious conservatives and gay rights advocates are placing on the election's outcome. The upcoming vote marks the first time voters have been asked to ban same-sex marriage in a place where it already is legal.
Both opponents and supporters of Proposition 8 have secured six-or seven-figure contributions from individuals and institutions.
Leading the giving on the Yes side were the Catholic fraternal organization the Knights of Columbus ($1.2 million), Irvine banking heir Howard Ahmanson Jr.'s Fieldstead and Co. foundation ($900,000) and the late Bryn Mawr, Pa., investor John Templeton ($900,000).
On the No side, retired Brooklyn, N.Y., hedge fund manager Robert W. Wilson gave $1.2 million, followed by GeoCities founder David Bohnett ($1.1 million), WordPerfect software founder Bruce Bastian ($1 million) and Cleveland philanthropist David Maltz ($1 million).
While the Proposition 8 fight has set a record for spending on gay marriage initiatives, it's not the only high-dollar ballot battle in California.
Opponents have raised more than $27.7 million to defeat Proposition 7, which would require utilities to generate 50 percent of their power from renewable sources such as solar and wind by 2025.
Almost all that money has come from the parent companies of California's two biggest utilities, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and Southern California Edison.
The proposition's supporters have raised $7.3 million, almost all of it from Peter Sperling, vice chairman of Apollo Group, which operates the University of Phoenix.
Supporters of another energy-related initiative, Proposition 10, have raised nearly $8.5 million, including $7.2 million from a natural gas company founded by Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens.
The proposal would authorize the sale of $5 billion in bonds to provide up to $50,000 to those who buy natural gas and other alternative-fuel vehicles. The measure also would pay for research, development and production of renewable energy and alternative-fuel vehicle technologies.
Proposition 10's opponents had not filed their report by Monday evening.
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