Prometheus 6   

Winner take all

Donations Pick Up for State GOP
Schwarzenegger's popularity helps loosen wallets -- some of them on the Democratic side.
By Dan Morain
Times Staff Writer

SACRAMENTO � Capitalizing on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's popularity and moderate profile, the California Republican Party is raising millions of dollars by tapping disaffected Democratic givers and donors the governor has shunned.

Nearly a year before the 2004 legislative elections, party executives say they have checks and commitments exceeding the $11 million they raised for all of last year's statewide contests.

Schwarzenegger himself has raised more than $1.5 million since taking office two months ago. And California Republican Party Chairman Duf Sundheim has told Capitol lobbyists that he has donations and pledges totaling at least another $9 million for the GOP's effort to wrest control of the Legislature from Democrats next year.

Since Schwarzenegger took over, California Republicans "have died and gone to heaven," said state Sen. Don Perata (D-Oakland). "For the foreseeable future, they have an enormously popular governor who has much broader appeal than any Republican I can think of, including the president."

Republican stalwarts such as Alex Spanos, a Stockton developer who owns the San Diego Chargers football team, and companies such as ChevronTexaco account for much of the money. But Sundheim also is tapping some entities that Schwarzenegger has shunned as "special interests," including an Indian tribe, a union of public employees and several trade organizations.

Republicans also have wooed one of the Democrats' largest donors, mortgage lender Ameriquest Capital Corp., and its principals, Roland and Dawn Arnall. Ameriquest and the Arnalls have donated or promised $2 million to the California GOP, according to information Sundheim gave prospective donors in Sacramento this week.