White House Favor: A breakdown of local contributions to presidential campaigns

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, an Illinois Democrat, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican, pulled in the most cash from executives in the Springfield-Branson area, according to Federal Election Commission data through late October, the most recent available.

Obama won the Democratic caucuses in Iowa with 38 percent of the vote while Romney placed second in the state’s Republican caucuses behind former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Obama and Romney also fared well in the Jan. 8 New Hampshire primaries. Obama was a close second to U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Romney finished second behind U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., with 32 percent of the vote.

Findings at a glance

Click here for a breakdown of local campaign contributions.

Springfield businesspeople who have contributed to Romney’s campaign include real estate developers Sam Coryell Jr. and Mark Gardner, hotelier Gordon Elliott and retired pharmaceutical executive Fred McQueary.

Construction contractor Bill Killian, advertising firm owner Bob Noble and attorney Joe Carmichael are among those who have thrown their financial support behind Obama.

At least three prominent Ozarks business owners have given to two separate campaigns, although only one crossed party lines.

Sam Hamra, chairman and CEO of Springfield-based Wendy’s of Missouri, and wife June contributed $9,200 to Clinton’s campaign, and Hamra also gave $500 to Obama.

Lebanon businessman Robert Plaster, chairman of Evergreen Investments LLC, and wife Mary augmented Romney’s coffers with a $4,200 donation, and the couple also gave $4,600 to Huckabee’s election effort.

John Joslyn, the man behind the $15 million Titanic Museum in Branson, contributed to the two presidential candidates who came out on top in Iowa – Obama and Huckabee, who are practically polar political opposites despite their messages of change.

Joslyn and wife Mary Kellogg-Joslyn gave $4,300 to Obama’s campaign while Joslyn alone contributed $250 to Huckabee.

Also in Branson, Peter and Jack Herschend – the synergistic siblings behind Herschend Family Entertainment Corp. and family attraction Silver Dollar City – each gave to Republican candidates.

Peter Herschend and wife Jo Dee contributed $4,600 to Romney, while Jack Herschend funneled $1,000 to Huckabee’s campaign.

Voicing support

Springfield Business Journal attempted to interview local businesspeople who have contributed to presidential candidates. Some politely declined. Others said their business affiliation had nothing to do with whom they’re supporting in the fiercely fought race. But a few gladly discussed who they backed and why.

Both Coryell and Elliott said they contributed to Romney’s campaign after an influential Missourian with Springfield ties – Gov. Matt Blunt – personally asked for their support.

“Matt and Mitt are very tight,” Coryell said. “So I think that a Mitt Romney presidency might also translate into some good things for the state of Missouri. Who knows what Mitt Romney, the president, might have in mind for Matt Blunt, the governor?”

Blunt has publicly stated that he’s not eyeing a vice-presidential run but rather focusing on his gubernatorial re-election campaign against challenger Attorney General Jay Nixon.

Both Coryell and Elliott said Romney’s business background makes the Bay Stater an appealing and electable candidate. Romney spent much of his pre-political career with Bain Capital, a Boston-based private equity group that managed debt hedge funds.

Coryell described Romney as a “business-friendly candidate” whose push to lower corporate and income taxes should theoretically facilitate growth for small businesses like Coryell Enterprises.

“I think that more politicians ought to get out there in the real world and see how businesses are run and see the real problems that small businesses face,” Coryell said.

Romney’s economic policies are of little importance to attorney Carmichael, who early on latched onto Obama’s campaign. Obama embodies a spirit of unity that’s been missing in America for the past seven years, said Carmichael, who was chairman of the Missouri State Democratic Party from 1993 to 2002.

“Regardless of your party loyalties, you’re tired of the divisive politics,” he said. “(Obama) is changing politics as we know it … because he’s not out there pandering to special-interest groups. He’s out there conveying a vision. … He’s very much a motivator.”

Carmichael said criticism about Obama’s lack of political experience on the national level – he’s still serving his first term in the Senate – is empty. “Clearly, this guy is capable,” he said.

Carmichael and Coryell both said they are eagerly awaiting the outcome of upcoming state primaries, including the Jan. 15 vote in Michigan and the Jan. 19 Republican primary in South Carolina. Coryell conceded that he’s “still somewhat undecided” just weeks from Missouri’s Feb. 5 primaries.

“I’ve not settled on Mitt Romney for sure,” he said. “I’m still listening to all of the debates they’re doing and following the primaries. ... I’m so excited to see how this thing plays out on both sides of the aisle.”