The Selma Times-Journal

Unruh wasn’t far from the truth, and the money gathering by 2008 presidential hopefuls is well under way. During the next few days, the Times-Journal will show you how much candidates are raising in Alabama with an eye toward Dallas and surrounding counties.

Already, the candidates seeking nominations to lead the Democratic and Republican tickets have generated about $420 million in donations, according to the Center for Responsive Politics in Washington, D.C.

Some at the non-profit, non-partisan organization predict the nominees from each party will need $500 million just to get to the conventions. Another prediction is that all the candidates will raise about $1 billion before the next president of the United States is elected.

Contributions to presidential candidates are open records. Candidates have to report what they receive by name of donor, address, employment, amount and date.

This series begins with the Democrats and in alphabetical order with Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware.

Biden will celebrate his 65th birthday next week. He is a native of Scranton, Penn., who started his political career as a county councilman in New Castle County, Delaware.

He was elected to the U.S. Senate at the age of 29.

So far in this presidential bid, Biden has raised $8.215 million and spent $6.329 million. He has $1.88 million cash on hand and a debt of $128,210. He’s sixth in the list of Democrats.

Although he’s on the ballot in Alabama primary Feb. 5, not many have donated to his campaign. Nobody from Dallas County has given Biden money.

Here are the Donors:

&Joseph Connaughton, Huntsville, Stone engineering Co., consulting engineer, March 27, $1,000.

&Howell Heflin, Tuscumbia, retired, May 24, $1,000

&Doug Jones, Birmingham, Whatley Drake LLC, House District 48, June 29, $1,000

&Stanley Bockway, Huntsville, retired, Sept. 28, $500

&Thomas R. Edwards, Montgomery, Thomas Edwards PC, attorney, July 19, $500

&C. Gibson Vance, Montgomery, July 19, $500

Ronald McCoy, Birmingham, self-employed antique dealer, March 27, $250

&Gerard Woodford, Vestavia Hills, Regions Bank, banker, Aug. 30, $250

&Dr. Ronda Wright, Montgomery, Montgomery Pathology Associates, PC, Aug. 29, $250

&Curtis Locklin, Lillian, Water Plus Corp, business owner, June 7, $200.