By Andy Ostmeyer
Globe Metro Editor
Neither of my parents could be vice president.
Having watched Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin try to explain every misstep of a family member — an NPR report Wednesday noted her husband’s citation for fishing without a license — I realized that as saintly as my parents are, their six kids (and one in particular who disgraced the tribe by going into journalism) could drag down an entire party — not to mention political system.
After all, these are the parents who planted cacti and rose bushes outside the window when my brother and I moved our bedrooms to the basement as kids. The plants grew as we did. The thinking was that if there was a fire, we’d risk it, but we weren’t likely to brave the spiny gauntlet just to sneak out for the night.
Anyway, I’ve yet to learn much about Palin or Sen. Joe Biden, Democratic vice-presidential candidate, from the intimate details released about their respective families.
The money trail may offer better perspective.
Palin
Palin went from the mayor of Wasilla to governor, unexpectedly knocking off a big power, Frank Murkowski, a former U.S. Senator and Alaska governor.
According to the National Institute for Money in State Politics, Palin ran for lieutenant governor in 2002 and lost, only raising $48,641 — not much more than some candidates who run for local and county offices raise. That would indicate that just six years ago, she wasn’t big-time.
She raised about $1.3 million running for governor in 2006. Almost all of that — $1.2 million — came from individual donors. Her fellow Republicans and state and local GOP committees gave her less than $100,000 combined.
I’m not sure what that tells us: That she’s one of the people? That Republicans were reluctant to hitch their wagon to her?
Tyler Evilsizer, who put together a report on Palin for the institute, notes that Alaska has some tough campaign finance laws, such as a ban on corporate contributions and limits of $1,000 for political action committees. Those limitations can make it hard to decipher political giving.
People who listed themselves as retirees gave Palin the most as a group, more than $96,000, ahead of the commercial fishing industry in Alaska, health professionals and lawyers and lobbyists.
Palin did not take — or maybe was not offered — money from VECO in 2006. VECO is the oil pipeline maintenance and construction company involved in the bribery and influence-peddling scandals in the state, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. (U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, a Republican, was indicted for failing to report $250,000 in home repairs and gifts from VECO.) Palin did take $4,500 from VECO in 2002.
The most telling thing about the money trail is that there’s not much of a trail, which may speak to her experience.
Biden
Biden went from the New Castle County Council to the U.S. Senate, knocking off a big power, J. Caleb Boggs, a former U.S. senator and Delaware governor.
Since 1989, Biden has raised $27.4 million, with 76 percent of that coming from individual contributions. The top contributor is MBNA Corp., the bank holding company, which has given him $214,000, according to opensecrets.org. The bank, which has its headquarters in Delaware, is the world’s largest dispenser of credit cards. The company also has been singled out by Public Broadcasting for some of its controversial practices involving credit-card customers.
Another big giver is Peter Angelos, the lawyer who also owns the Baltimore Orioles.
What’s interesting about Biden is that he didn’t get a lot of respect, either, from Democrats when he ran for president earlier this year.
Biden raised $13 million, but Obama generated $389 million through the end of July, while Hillary Clinton raised almost $235 million, according to opensecrets.org. Chris Dodd raised more than $17 million and Bill Richardson raised $23 million. Even Dennis Kucinich raised nearly $5.5 million.
That means Democrats weren’t hitching their wagon to Biden, either.
And yet, they’re both here.
Address correspondence to Andy Ostmeyer, c/o The Joplin Globe, P.O. Box 7, Joplin, Mo. 64802 or e-mail aostmeyer@joplinglobe.com.
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