BY SANDY THEIS
Enquirer Columbus Bureau
COLUMBUS -- Bob Taft, the Republican candidate for governor, enters the general election with a record-setting $6.08 million, a figure that places him far ahead of his Democratic rival, Lee Fisher.
Mr. Fisher, Ohio's former attorney general, reported a balance of $3.52 million, according to campaign reports filed Friday. Candidates had to disclose all money raised and spent from April 15 through June 5.
All other Republicans running for statewide, nonjudicial offices also out-raised their Democratic counterparts.
Taft campaign spokesman Brett Buerck noted that Mr. Taft's numbers break the $5.04 million mark set by Republican Gov. George Voinovich's 1994 re-election campaign.
National political parties can give unlimited donations. Mr. Taft collected $250,000 from the Republican National State Election Committee and $450,000 from the Ohio Republican Party. Even though he collected $400,000 of the state party money after the June 5 deadline, he disclosed the donation. The disclosure enabled him to hit the symbolic $6 million mark.
Mr. Taft also received $17,500 from the Cuyahoga County Republican Party, $17,000 from Stark County, $15,000 from Hamilton County, $6,000 from Summit County and $5,000 from Butler County.
State and national Democratic Party accounts donated nothing to Mr. Fisher. He did bring in about $500,000 from a June 3 fund-raiser in Cleveland with President Clinton.
"We're not surprised by the amounts," said Fisher spokeswoman Judy Barbao. "We know that Bob Taft and the Republicans are going to out-spend us. We also know that Lee Fisher is a terrific fund-raiser and will have enough money to be competitive and to get his message out."
Mr. Fisher raised much of his money from organized labor, business executives and attorneys. His report also included a $1,500 donation from Toledo businessman Bruce Douglas, who briefly challenged him for the nomination.
In the race for secretary of state, Ohio Treasurer Ken Blackwell, a Cincinnati Republican, raised $607,239, and recorded a balance of just more than $1 million.
His opponent, state Rep. Charleta Tavares of Columbus, raised $29,367, with a balance of $52,717. The Ohio Democratic Party gave her $10,000.
Mr. Blackwell received 15 separate $2,500 donations from relatives of Cincinnati businessman Carl Lindner. His total also included $350,000 from the Ohio Republican Party; $1,000 from the campaign committee of former Senate President Stanley Aronoff, R-Cincinnati; and $3,500 from Procter & Gamble Co.'s PAC.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters reported a balance of $632,738 -- including a $100,000 donation from the state Republican Party -- for his run for state treasurer. The Democratic candidate for the post, Summit County Treasurer John Donofrio, had $84,985 left after spending $182,103 in the primary.
Mr. Deters reported money from the Teamsters, the Cleveland business community and bankers.
Mr. Donofrio received $20,000 from the Ohio Democratic Party. In the race for state auditor, incumbent Republican James Petro raised $415,091, for a balance of $707,572.
His opponent, Cincinnati businessman Louis Strike, raised $29,290, for a balance of $23,111.
Incumbent Attorney General Betty Montgomery raised $300,693, and had a balance of $1.7 million.
Democratic challenger Richard Cordray raised $298,990, and had a balance of $517,114.
