Ga. Rep. Charlie Norwood's campaign has received about four times as much money from PACs than has chanllanger David Bell.Photo by Bob Rives/File

Many PACs from various groups are contributing to Georgia Rep. Charlie Norwood's re-election; 75 percent of David Bell's PAC contributions have come from organized labor

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  Ga. PAC contributions
  S.C. PAC contributions

Web-posted Oct. 27

By Tom Corwin and Paul Garber
Staff Writers

For U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood, R-Ga., the 104th Congress has been a smorgasbord.

Political actions committees from Georgia peanut farmers to Minnesota sugar beet growers, from conservative groups such as the American Family Association to corporate concerns such as AT&T have been contributing to his re-election.

``It's nauseating when it gets down to it,'' Dr. Norwood said. ``(But) I have to raise enough money to offset the AFL-CIO'' labor unions buying ads critical of him.

For Democrat David Bell, it has been more of a single pipeline - 75 percent of his money has come from organized labor. He sees that as more of a reflection on his opponent, Dr. Norwood, than on him.

``They came to me not because of anything I did but because Charlie Norwood is against working men and women,'' Mr. Bell said.

A computer analysis of political action committee (PAC) and political party contributions reveal a vast gulf between the two candidates. Dr. Norwood's campaign received about four times as much from PACs than Mr. Bell and from a greater variety as well.

Health care groups from the American Medical Association to the Society of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgeons are supporting his bid to the tune of at least $94,500. But so are energy companies, telecommunication companies and House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

``He's doing well to be among the top 50 PAC recipients,'' said Sheila Krumholz, spokeswoman for the Washington-based Center for Responsive Politics. ``He's right there with a bunch of people who have been incumbents for a long time. For him to be among the great ones is surprising.''

Dr. Norwood said much of the money can be put down to simply the committees he has served on that handle lots of health care and business legislation. Groups are merely seeking good will, he said.

``I guess they want to come in and have you hear their view on a bill,'' he said. And that's often necessary to know how language in a bill may affect a particular industry, he said. Certain bills such as the Telecommunications Act proved to be a big draw for companies: AT&T gave Dr. Norwood $9,500 and BellSouth gave him $8,100, though the two were on opposite sides in supporting the bill. Dr. Norwood said it really didn't matter who gave him money.

``I voted for the bill because I thought it would mean jobs'' for the district, he said.

Republicans like Dr. Norwood have gotten a lot of money from health care, and for good reason, Ms. Krumholz said.

``Health care is still giving a lot of money,'' she said. ``Especially the pharmaceutical companies who are dying to get rid of FDA regulations and have relied on Republicans to carry their water,'' she said.

Pharmaceutical companies, including such drug giants as Glaxo Inc., have donated $21,500 to Dr. Norwood's campaign.

Dr. Norwood said he's not even sure exactly who has given him money, and to him, it doesn't really matter.

``They don't have enough money to influence my vote,'' he said.

Mr. Bell says he told the labor unions the same thing.

``I have told organized labor I'm not in this race to represent organized labor,'' Mr. Bell said. ``But I am in this race to represent working men and women.''

Both men point a finger at the other's supporters and cry foul. Mr. Bell decries Mr. Norwood accepting $19,500 in ``special interest tobacco money'' while Dr. Norwood calls on Mr. Bell to send back $2,000 from Laborers International, which had been under investigation for alleged ties to organized crime.

The unions have made no secret of their disdain for Dr. Norwood. But it's also in keeping with their giving patterns that they would back the challenger, Ms. Krumholz said.

`Unions don't like to spend their money on safe bets,'' Ms. Krumholz said. ``They tend to target the riskier seats.''

But in fact, both Republicans and Democrats point to the 10th District as a crucial race. Republican National Committee Chairman Haley Barbour singled out the race as an important one for the party to win; Georgia Democratic Executive Director Steve Anthony said it's also one where the Democrats feel they have a good shot at taking back a congressional seat.

All the money simply points up how much is at stake this year, said University of Georgia political scientist Dr. Charles Bullock.

``This could be a pivotal year for the 10th District,'' said Charles Bullock, professor of political science at the University of Georgia.

``If a Democrat wins it will be hard for Republicans to oust him,'' he said. ``But if Norwood wins he should be safe in that seat into the next century.''

At least that's what the PACs are betting on, on both sides.