Cabarrus County residents have not been big spenders on presidential politics in the last year, but the money they have spent has gone primarily to President Barack Obama’s campaign, according to a campaign financing database compiled by the Winston-Salem Journal.
Through the end of 2011, Cabarrus County residents donated approximately $10,600 to presidential campaigns. Obama’s campaign collected about $6,805 locally compared to the $4,083.20 combined raised by Republican candidates for president.
The database included most of Cabarrus County except for one zip code – 28124 – where Mount Pleasant is located. No data was available for that zip code. The filing period was through Dec. 31, before the primary season began in 2012.
Ron Paul was the most popular GOP candidate in Cabarrus County based on local campaign contributions. Paul pulled in $1,447.20 locally with most of his contributions coming from Concord residents. Paul’s contributions came from residents living in three zip codes – 28081, 28025 and 28027.
Meanwhile, GOP frontrunners Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich took in less than $700 in contributions combined. Gingrich raised $350 locally, followed by Romney with $320. Santorum, who has won primaries or caucuses in four of the eight states that have held them so far, did not raise any money in Cabarrus County through the end of 2011.
Romney’s $320 came from the 28027 zip code in Concord while Gingrich received support from 28083 in Kannapolis.
Michele Bachmann, who dropped out of the race, raised nearly as much money as Ron Paul. She took in $966 from Cabarrus County residents in the 28027 and 28075 zip codes. Bachmann visited Troutman’s Barbecue in Concord in September, trying to spread her message and raise money. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, once a frontrunner in the GOP race, raised no money in the county.
Herman Cain and Jon Huntsman, two presidential hopefuls who also dropped out of the race, also received contributions. Cain collected $750 from residents living in Concord’s 28027 zip code. Huntsman received $250 in donations to his campaign from the 28025 zip code.
Obama had the largest number of contributors with 19 people making donations toward his campaign. The largest single donation was $500. Obama collected money from doctors, dentists, lawyers, retirees and veterans among others. He was the only candidate to receive a contribution from a resident in Midland. Most of his contributions came from Concord, but he also received support from Kannapolis and Harrisburg residents.
According to statewide campaign finance reports, Gingrich, the former House speaker, had the largest percentage gain — 362 percent — since Sept. 30, from about $32,000 to nearly $149,000. Romney raised more money than Obama in Charlotte, where the Democratic National Convention will be held in September.
Statewide, the president has raised $1.143 million in North Carolina to date, while the 12 Republican candidates who were in the race at various times in the past 14 months have raised $1.156 million, according the Federal Election Commission’s website.
Nationally, Republicans hold a $30 million advantage: $155 million to Obama’s $125 million. Political experts say the donations will rise for a specific Republican candidate when it becomes clearer who the party’s nominee will be.
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