An Atlanta Journal-Constitution analysis of newly released Federal Election Commission data shows that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Republican former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush parlayed their name recognition and deep ties to party infrastructure into big money from Georgians.
Clinton took home $606,000 from Georgia, while Bush raised $319,000 — much of it in maximum $2,700 increments.
The other Republicans in the race raised far less, though hundreds of Georgians gave small amounts to neurosurgeon Ben Carson and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, indicating a strong grass-roots backing.
On the Democratic side, Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders raised $36,000 from Georgia, while former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley took in a mere $11,000.
Notable donors to Clinton include former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn; his daughter, nonprofit executive and former Senate candidate Michelle Nunn; former Attorney General Thurbert Baker; former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin; former Secretary of State Cathy Cox; and media mogul Ted Turner.
Among Bush’s backers are Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus, former Senate and gubernatorial candidate Guy Millner, and former George H.W. Bush administration official and prominent GOP fundraiser Eric Tanenblatt.
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