California Leading Nation In Presidential Campaign Contributions

New financial reports show that California is leading the nation in presidential campaign contributions.

Californians from Hollywood to the Silicon Valley have given $24.5 million dollars to presidential candidates in the 2004 campaign, a preliminary report by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics says.

Outside the District of Columbia, California also leads the nation in soft money contributions. Many of the contributions come from retirees, the Center said.

John Edwards, Howard Dean, and President Bush have all raised money in California.

Edwards received a one million dollar contribution from Hollywood producer and Democratic activist Stephen Bing. Dean raised about 4-point-five million dollars, or one-fifth of the money here for his campaign. President Bush has raised about $11 million of his $108 million dollars in campaign funds so far.