California leads Kerry donations

West Coast law firms have helped Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry raise more money in California, making the state the party’s leading contributor in the US.

By the end of June, Californian donations for Kerry’s bid for the White House totalled $23.6m (£12.9m), amounting to 21 per cent of his overall donations across the country, according to information produced by PoliticalMoneyLine.

President George W Bush has managed to notch up a not insignificant $17.6m (£9.6m) from California.

Of the top donors in the region, law firms have so far contributed $216,479 (£118,537) to Kerry’s campaign.

Leading the throng of Democratic supporters is Morrison & Foerster, which has given $48,500 (£26,557) to help install Kerry in 1,600 Pennsylvania Avenue while Latham & Watkins contributed $37,000 (£20,260).

Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe stumped up $35,779 (£19,592) in the period from 1 January 2003 until the end of June this year and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati contributed $31,350 (£17,166).