Clinton Leads With Big Donors in Decatur

DECATUR, GA -- If campaign contributions in Georgia are any indication, Tuesday’s result in the Democratic presidential primary should be a good one for Hillary Clinton.

The Republican money race in the Peach State is a more complicated affair, however, with back-of-the-pack candidates like Ben Carson raking in more campaign cash than the likes of presumed front-runner Donald Trump.

That’s according to the latest publicly available contribution data from the Federal Election Commission.

Clinton’s campaign has raised just over $1.3 million in the state, according to the FEC. That’s compared to about $320,000 for challenger Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Among Republicans, Carson has benefited the most from Georgia’s largess among candidates still in the race, pulling in about $767,000. Sen. Ted Cruz is next with about $617,000 and Sen. Marco Rubio has raised about $570,000 in Georgia.

Trump, the billionaire who has largely financed his own campaign, has pulled a mere $55,514 in the state.

It’s worth noting, of course, that the FEC stats are for contributions directly to campaigns. Donors also are able to give to political action committees (PACs) which act on the various candidates’ behalf, but are not officially aligned with them.

Decatur is well known as a reliable Democratic bastion in a predominantly Republican state, and the list of top donors reflects that. The list also speaks to Clinton’s perceived advantage in the state -- six Decatur donors have contributed either $1,000 or the maximum, $2,700, to Clinton, compared to two for Sanders.

They are as follows.

For Clinton:

_ John Ahmann, consultant, $2,700

_ Lori Billingsley, Coca Cola Co., $1,000

_ Angela Freeman, engineer, $2,700

_ Billy Freeman Jr., business owner, $2,700

_ Tom Lauth, attorney, $1,000

_ Teri McMahon, attorney, $1,000

For Sanders:

_ Jane Vincent, attorney, $1,000

_ Kate Christman, social worker, $1,000
Living up to its left-leaning reputation, Decatur wasn’t nearly as generous to Republicans

No donors were listed in Decatur for Trump or Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

Physician Carson had received no donations above $250 and Cruz had tallied none above $500.

Rubio, however, found a handful of big donors in the city just east of Atlanta. They are:

_ Terry L. Hord, homemaker, $2,700

_ Dr. Allen Hord, physician, $2,200

_ Bradley L. Alexander, consultant, $2,200

Following Democratic voting in three states, Clinton leads Sanders in pledged delegates, 52 to 51. But Clinton holds a commanding lead over the Vermont senator in the race for the nomination overall, with the support of 445 superdelegates compared to just 18 superdelegates for Sanders.

Following Republican voting in four states, Trump holds a commanding lead in delegate count with 82. Cruz has 17 pledged delegates, Rubio 16, Kasich 6 and Carson 4.

Polls will be open in Georgia on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.