GEPHARDT'S GOT 18 BIG DEM DONORS And he's here for more

Rep. Richard Gephardt's presidential campaign has taken a big step forward by corraling 18 deep-pocketed Democratic donors in New York - the latest sign the White House sweepstakes is off to an early start here.

With Gephardt (D-Mo.) swooping into town for two fund-raisers today, aides said he's launching a New York fund-raising committee that includes financier Felix Rohatyn, YES cable network chief Leo Hindery and one of the party's top donors, Loral Space & Communications CEO Bernard Schwartz.

Gephardt's visit, his first here since declaring his candidacy last week, highlights the intensifying scramble for cash in advance of the March 31 deadline for candidates to release their quarterly fund-raising tallies.

Because those totals will be viewed as a barometer of the candidates' relative strength, each campaign faces pressure to scoop up as much cash as possible by that date.

Another major candidate, Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), also pulls into town today for three private fund-raisers - after slipping into Manhattan last week for a fund-raising performance of "Hairspray" sponsored by the play's producer, Adam Epstein.

And Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) plans to hold a pair of high-profile fund-raisers March 11 - receptions at the Regency Hotel and the restaurant Cipriani.

The battle for money has been complicated by the decision of 25 to 50 Democratic donors here to sit on their checkbooks until the party's crowded field thins out.

The competition for cash here is so intense, the Kerry and Gephardt campaigns are touting Schwartz as a supporter. Schwartz said yesterday that he's helping both men and likely will assist Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) as well.

Spreading out the cash
"I will give them equal access to my resources," Schwartz said, explaining that his support will give "each of them an opportunity to appeal to the Democratic community."
Gephardt's initial list of New York backers included John Tishman, president of Tishman Properties; Jack Dreyfus, president of the Dreyfus Charitable Fund, and Lynn Forrester, known as Lady de Rothschild, president of ELR Holdings.

Gephardt's campaign sliced hotelier Sant Chatwal from the list after the Daily News raised questions about Chatwal's past. He was declared bankrupt in 2001 after racking up more than $100 million in debts, including more than $30 million in taxes owed to the IRS, the city and several states.

Wednesday, February 26th 2003, 7:34AM
Source: Daily News

By JOEL SIEGEL DAILY NEWS SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT