Herald-Leader offers look at Obama, McCain donors in Kentucky

The Herald-Leader released a new database today that allows you to look up campaign contributions to Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain from Kentuckians. 

Statewide, Obama has raised $1.8 million compared to the $867,000 McCain has brought in. 

Just a quick look at Daviess County – Obama has received 97 contributions from Daviess County residents compared to the 59 contributions going to McCain. 

McCain’s top contributions came from pharmacy owner Kim Nation with Nation’s Medicines, developer David Hocker, Jim Watts of Watts Brothers Inc. and John Anderson of real estate firm DHA, who each have given the $2,300 maximum individual contribution for the general election.

Nation has actually exceeded the contribution limit and had several contributions refunded, according to the database. 

Obama’s largest contribution in Daviess County came from attorney Forrest Roberts, who gave $2,000 to the campaign last month. 

Check it out, and for a more in-depth look, visit www.fec.gov.

More campaign contribution shenanigans

Courier-Journal columnist David Hawpe reports this morning he’s been targeted by the same tactics someone employed against fellow C-J columnist and editorial writer Betty Bayé last month. 

Both lean more left than right ideologically, and have learned that someone is making campaign contributions to Republican candidates in their names but without their knowledge or consent, a practice meant to embarass the columnists that happens to be illegal. 

Like Bayé, Hawpe received a thank you letter from the campaign of Republican Brett Guthrie, who is running in Kentucky’s 2nd Congressional District, and has also had contributions made in his name to Elizabeth Dole, in incumbent Republican running for U.S. Senate in North Carolina, and Anne Northup, the former congresswoman from Louisville who is trying to reclaim Kentucky’s 3rd District seat. 

Hawpe also had contributions made to the conservative organizations that Heritage Foundation and the Jesse Helms Center Foundation.