Politics

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ― To get a good look at the Presidential race here in the Bay Area, we did what political reporters have been told to do over the years. We followed the money.

We got the Federal Elections Commissions reports.  We divided up donations.  We categorized contributions.

And here's what we came up with:  Rich people give the most money.

For the Democrats, the most lucrative zip code was San Francisco 94118 ... which includes Pacific Heights, among the most expensive real estate in the country.

For the Republicans, it's Atherton 94027, where the median income is
$210,000 a year - highest in the United States.

"94115, 94109 and 94... I still remember all of this, ha ha!!", said Democratic political strategist Michael Yaki, who - like other political pros - knows every year big money comes from the same places.

Like Willie Sutton and banks, politicians flock to rich neighborhoods because that's where the money is.

"We have a system where we're often electing the best fundraisers, instead of the best leaders," said Dan Newman of MapLight, a group that tracks donations.

And the rich didn't get rich on bad gambles. While Atherton's money mostly goes red for Republican, it's also top ten for Democrats, too.

"The candidates are gigantic Hoovers coming here and sucking up cash," said Yaki.

Of course, there is support outside of San Francisco and Atherton.

Though amounts are smaller, when Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama want to count on cash, they might want to go to Berkeley 94705, where 94% of donations are blue. Pacifica 94004 is also 94% Democratic.  Piedmont 94611 is 93% blue. They are among the most loyal Democratic givers.

The reddest of the Bay Area, cash-wise ... Dixon 95620, which is 94% Republican. Vacaville 95688 is 84%; Calistoga 94515 is 90%. That's where Republicans have the biggest edge over their rivals.

Vacaville businessman C.C. Yin played both sides of the fence. He gave to Senator McCain, Governor Romney, and Senator Obama.

He's among dozens who are covering their bets, donating to candidates on both sides. To insure good government, he says.

"Do you expect anything from this money you give to the candidates?" I asked him. "I don't have any short term personal expectations," said Yin.

But MapLight's Newman said, "You have a system where you have candidates asking for votes from everyone, but the people who really have the candidates ears are a small majority."

New campaign reform laws limit any person from giving more than $4,600 to one candidate. Among those who have given in the Bay Area: San Francisco Giants President Peter Magowan and wine baron Don Sebastiani, who toast John McCain. Berkeley author Michael Chabon, in between writing novels, wrote a big check to Obama. East Bay cartoonist Scott Adams drew on his Dilbert profits to do the same. Beach Blanket Babylon mogul Jo Schuman is acting on Hillary Clinton's behalf, along with author Amy Tan.

Hundreds of millions of dollars went to candidates now out of the running. Paul Cyril of Lafayette gave to Republican Duncan Hunter because of his military policy. He doesn't see it as money wasted.

"I'm glad that I'm able in a country such as ours to be able to have this kind of freedom," said Cyril.

By the time it's over, Campaign 2008 may have cost candidates one billion dollars ... the most ever.

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