Follow the money !

Perry leads contributions in El Paso, state
By Brandi Grissom / Austin Bureau

AUSTIN -- GOP Gov. Rick Perry is winning the money game in El Paso and statewide, but more individual El Pasoans and contributors overall gave money to independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman.
"We're getting thousands of people to give us fewer dollars, and we're OK with that," said Friedman spokesman Laura Stromberg.
Campaign finance reports submitted this week to the Texas Ethics Commission show that in the first six months of the year, Friedman brought in the least money of all four major gubernatorial candidates, but he received more individual donations.
Reports show Friedman brought in $1.5 million from about 21,700 individual contributions. Perry reported $4.6 million from about 3,600 contributors.
Independent candidate Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn raked in $3 million from about 1,200 donors. Democratic nominee Bell got $1.6 million from about 1,500 supporters.
Friedman's campaign is targeting thousands of new voters and Texans disenchanted with the traditional parties. Those voters are not typically large campaign contributors.
"We have more people giving us less money, which means more people are supporting us," Stromberg said. "At the end of the day, we don't care if our supporters give us $5 or $5,000."
Seventy-one El Pasoans gave Friedman $3,835 in contributions ranging from $15 to $250.
Tanny Berg, a real estate developer and investor, gave Friedman the largest El Paso contribution, $250. Berg said he is politically active and often contributes to candidates in both parties.
He supports Friedman because, he said, neither Republicans nor Democrats have shown El Paso the attention it needs and deserves as a booming city.
"Kinky Friedman, to me, represents that alternative vote," Berg said.

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