Fundraisers called to help Kerry: Candidate aims for $80 million

[Freddie Stubbs]

By Jim Drinkard
USA TODAY


WASHINGTON -- John Kerry is rapidly enlisting the top fundraisers for his vanquished Democratic rivals, giving him up to 500 new volunteers who can raise millions for his presidential campaign from their social and business circles.

By telephone and in meetings, the likely Democratic nominee is courting the best money-raisers for John Edwards, Dick Gephardt, Wesley Clark and Joe Lieberman. He also is seeking help from Howard Dean, the Democrat who raised the most last year.

The effort is paying off. ''Everyone within my sphere of influence will want to help John Kerry,'' says Mitchell Berger, a veteran Democratic fundraiser who worked for Lieberman. It's a hopeful development for Kerry as he tries to compete financially with President Bush, who is on track to raise $200 million or more by summer.

Kerry's opponents amassed $116 million through Jan. 31, a record for Democrats. Most of their donors haven't given to Kerry and are eligible to do so. The law lets an individual give up to $2,000 to each presidential candidate for the primaries.

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