President Barack Obama raised more than $1.1 million in North Carolina last year - nearly as much as all of his would-be Republican challengers combined.
But in banktown Charlotte, the top fundraiser was former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the ex-business executive and current GOP front-runner. His local donations totaled almost $103,000; those for Democrat Obama, the runner-up, came to almost $92,000.
Statewide, Obama was the leader among donors identifying themselves as lawyers and teachers. Texas congressman Ron Paul was first with members of the military.
North Carolina, with 15 electoral votes, is likely to be among the most hotly contested swing states in 2012. And the statewide fundraising race could end up being as close as the one for votes.
Of the $2.3 million N.C. donors gave to presidential candidates last year, $1.16 million went to Republicans and $1.14 million went to Obama.
These are among the findings of an Observer analysis of 2011 data from the Federal Election Commission.
The filings by the various campaigns also included names of their donors. Charlotte developer Johnny Harris contributed $2,500 to the Romney campaign. "He's a good candidate and he's had tremendous experience in the business world," Harris said. "He's had to meet a payroll. He has a lot of attributes and basic intelligence. He seems to be very qualified to be president of the United States, much more so than any of the other Republican candidates."
Charles Johnson, a Charlotte lawyer, gave Obama $1,250. "I certainly support Obama's presidency and his agenda, and I think it's extremely important that he receive a second term," Johnson said. "I'm fortunate enough to be able to contribute to a presidential campaign, and I can't imagine a candidate I would more whole-heartedly endorse."
Here's more of what the Observer analysis turned up:
Among 11 Republican candidates - seven of whom are no longer chasing the GOP nomination - Romney led the field statewide, with nearly $353,000. But finishing second was Paul (almost $285,000), who has trailed the other two surviving Romney challengers in the Florida and South Carolina primaries. Gingrich received almost $149,000 in North Carolina; Santorum collected just over $15,000.
Statewide, Romney received about 5,100 fewer donations than Obama. But the average donation to Romney's campaign topped $661. Obama's average was $201.
That mirrors the national picture. The Obama campaign raised $125 million last year - 47 percent of it from donations of $200 or less, according to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics. Romney, meanwhile, far raised $58.5 million - 9 percent of it from small donors.
Donations from Charlotte totaled nearly $311,000 - tops among N.C. cities. Raleigh and Chapel Hill were second and third, while Waxhaw - with nearly $19,000 in contributions - finished 15th on the list.
Charlotte's top-donating ZIP code, 28207, which includes Myers Park and Eastover, gave $60,406 - the fourth-highest in the state. These contributors gave Romney more than double what they gave Obama.
Also big givers were those who live in the South Charlotte/Park Road area - the city's second-highest and state's seventh-highest ZIP code, with donations totaling $46,665. Ballantyne was No. 3 citywide and No. 8 statewide with $46,628. And those living in the 28211 ZIP code, including part of Providence Road and Sharon Amity Road, were fourth citywide and ninth statewide with $42,126.
In South Carolina, site of the Jan. 21 Republican presidential primary, donors gave just over $1 million to the candidates last year. About two-thirds went to Republicans. But Obama's total of nearly $344,000 was the highest among the candidates. Romney was the runner-up, with almost $163,000.
Donors in York and Lancaster counties in South Carolina gave candidates a total of almost $43,000.
Who gave the money?
The list of the top N.C. and local donors was dominated by business executives. But it also included a college professor, a Marine officer and a retired physician. Here's a sampling:
Obama: Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers and his wife, Mary Anne, of Charlotte, $10,000. Rogers was a leader in the campaign to have Charlotte host this year's Democratic National Convention, and is a key fundraiser for the event.
Romney: Charlotte's Alan Dickson, retired executive of Ruddick Corp. (owner of Harris-Teeter), $2,500.
Paul: Hickory businessman Jeb Andrews of Hickory, $2,000.
Gingrich: Retired CEO Food Lion CEO Tom Smith and his wife, Martha, of Salisbury, $5,000.
Santorum: Raleigh businessman Cliff Benson, $1,000.
The Observer breakdowns don't include money contributed to so-called "Super PACs," private and supposedly independent groups that can spend unlimited amounts on TV ads promoting some candidates - and attacking others.
Four years ago, then-Sen. Obama became the first Democrat to carry North Carolina since 1976. But he did it by the thinnest of margins - just 14,000 votes. He's banking on a repeat win in the Tar Heel State, with his campaign working from out of five N.C. field offices - the latest one, in Wilmington, opened this week - and volunteers registering new voters.
But the latest Public Policy Polling survey, from last month, found a tight race nine months from Election Day: Obama led Romney 46 percent to 45 percent. Obama's lead was wider when pitted against Paul and Gingrich. But Santorum tied the president in the poll, both with 46 percent.
With the race so close, and the stakes so high, one thing's for sure: The campaign cash raised last year is just the beginning.
"North Carolina is obviously ...going to be one of the battleground states," said Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause of North Carolina, which promotes campaign finance reform. "So it's not surprising that we're seeing more money ... large money ... being raised and spent here."
Staff Writer Jim Morrill contributed.
