Underwriters dig deep for inaugural

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Crude, casinos, cars and computers.

This year's presidential inaugural is brought to you by a cornucopia of American ingenuity, and its donors reflect a Republican Party rich in diversity.

From Ford Motor Co. to Microsoft, underwriters for this year's presidential inaugural (supporters who have contributed $250,000 each to help defray the costs of the swearing-in, parade and gala balls) include Ray Lee Hunt of Texas, Sheldon Adelson (Las Vegas Sands) and Time-Warner.

Hotels have written checks -- the Ritz Carlton ($250,000), and Marriott International ($250,000) -- as well as the commissioner of baseball ($100,000) and Blue Cross ($100,000).

According to the official donor list, which is updated each week, donors so far have contributed more than $14 million to make sure President Bush gets a proper party.

But not all donors are Republican.

"I believe the election is over," said Stan Chesley, Cincinnati trial lawyer and friend of John Kerry who forked over $10,000 to the inaugural committee. Mr. Chesley, a top Democratic fund-raiser who helped garner $1 million for the Democratic candidate in Ohio last year at a $1,000-per-plate luncheon, said Mr. Bush is entitled "to have a proper inauguration."

"I'm a Democrat second. I'm an American citizen first," Mr. Chesley said.

The 55th Presidential Inaugural Committee hopes to raise as much as $50 million for this month's event. Not all of it will come from private donations.

Sales of merchandise will be included in that amount, and every pin, button, T-shirt and baseball cap counts. Still, the committee is not soliciting private donations in amounts less than $10,000; nickels and dimes can be kept for another cause.