In the Garden City, presidential hopeful Barack Obama is pulling in the green.
The freshman senator from Illinois got 292 residents to open their wallets, giving a collective $338,448 to his campaign.
According to Dec. 31 campaign finance reports, runner-up Sen. Hillary Clinton had half the number of donors and nearly $80,000 less in contributions.
Obama’s success in Newton doesn’t surprise Newton Corner resident Ross Neisuler.
“Newton residents over the years have been quick to recognize a brilliant leader,” said Neisuler before Tuesday’s election. “I think he is more likely to win here [in Newton].”
Neisuler, 67, remembers listening to Obama deliver a speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and saying to himself, “He is going to be president someday.”
Neisuler added, “I have seen many elections, and I haven’t seen anyone as inspirational as Barack Obama, at least since Bobby Kennedy.”
In terms of campaign contributions. Obama raised the most in each village in Newton, except Lower Falls went to Mitt Romney and Chestnut Hill went to Hillary Clinton.
“Barack is a newcomer on the national scene and he has generated a lot of excitement,” said Chestnut Hill resident Christopher Hill, who contributed to his campaign. “I am supporting him because I am convinced that he has a better chance of winning the national crowd and because he is bright, charismatic, honest and open.”
Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Steve Grossman, who intends to vote for Clinton in the Tuesday election, expects a close race.
“It will be down to the wire here in Massachusetts,” he said.
Asked why he thinks Obama has more financial bakers than his candidate, Grossman said, “Voters in Newton tend to focus significantly and consistently on the war as one of their principal concerns. It was that way from the beginning and it will continue.
Because Obama voted against the war in 2002, many residents will vote for him.
However, Clinton has her followers in the Garden City, too.
“People here remember that Massachusetts — and Newton — were extremely well off during the Clinton years,” Grossman said. “It was a period of economic prosperity.”
That’s not Clinton’s only asset. He added, “Hillary Clinton is the one that can change this country for the better. She has always been seen as a champion for those who don’t have a champion … Her success on Super Tuesday will have been built on her reputation as someone who cares deeply on women, children and families.”
In Newton, Clinton pulled in $258,780 from 154 supporters.
Following close on her heels is former Governor Mitt Romney’s $211,402 from 133 supporters. He’s received seven times the contributions of fellow Republican competitor John McCain.
“In terms of the economy, I think that Mitt [Romney] would be best person to put us on a path of financial stability,” said Newton Lower Falls resident Dina Chatwin, who financially supported Romney’s campaign. “But I am a little concerned about his position on the Iraq war. If the economy were the only question, it would be a no-brainer.”
Because John McCain is so outspoken in his support for the Iraq war, Chatwin said she would support any of the Democratic candidates over him.
Alderman Greer Tan Swiston is another Romney supporter. She thinks his success in fundraising in Newton is based on the fact that people here know Mitt Romney from his years working for Massachusetts and that they might not know McCain.
“He doesn’t manipulate, he doesn’t play tricks,” Swiston said. “He has strong leadership skills, and he will not waste our resources on feudal battles.”
But, ultimately, the results of the primary election will come down to the number of votes, and not the number of dollars raised or the number of donors.
“This election will not be won or loss by virtue of how much money was raised,” Grossman said. “It’s the marketplace of ideas that is of relevance to voters.”
Chrissie Long can be reached at clong@cnc.com.
