Presidential Bets in Rancho Santa Fe

Early results are in from horsey Rancho Santa Fe regarding the presidential fund-raising derby, and so far the winner is Mitt Romney, with $112,000 from the beginning of the year through September 30. According to data from Congressional Quarterly’s MoneyLine website, $2500 Romney donors included Marilyn Fletcher, wife of retired savings and loan magnate Kim Fletcher; ex–Del Mar fair board member Robin Parsky; and Douglas Kimmelman of Energy Capital Partners. Among the rest of the GOP pack, Minnesota congresswoman Michele Bachmann drew sizable support, with $25,050. Texas governor Rick Perry, a latecomer to the race, got $13,750. (Ex–downtown redevelopment honcho Fred Maas gave Perry $2500.) Ron Paul picked up $8000. Pizza magnate Herman Cain, a grassroots favorite and front-runner in some national polls, managed only $3500 from the bastion of GOP privilege. Ex–House Speaker Newt Gingrich got $2700, $200 from car dealer Bob Baker and the rest from Peri Urvek, listed as a retiree. Utah’s Jon Huntsman got a single $500 contribution, from physician and biotech consultant Douglas Axelrod. Incumbent president Barack Obama took in $31,905. Regular Democratic donor Elizabeth Keadle was down for $5000, but the biggest Obama giver was Karen Kohlberg, whose occupation is listed as philanthropist, with $10,000.