Bush, 4 Democrats Qualify for U.S. Matching Funds

WASHINGTON —  President Bush and four of the major Democratic presidential hopefuls were declared eligible Wednesday for federal matching campaign funds.

The Democrats who qualified were Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey, Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton and Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, the Federal Election Commission reported.

Earlier, former Massachusetts Sen. Paul E. Tsongas, also a Democrat, was declared eligible for matching funds.

The only major Democratic candidate who has not qualified is former California Gov. Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr.

Brown is campaigning against what he calls the corrupting influence of big campaign contributions and is only accepting contributions of $100 or less.

To qualify for matching funds, candidates must raise $5,000 in each of 20 states in contributions of no more than $250.

Candidates should receive their first matching fund checks for $100,000--or more if they report additional contributions by Monday--in early January, FEC spokesman Fred Eiland said. The checks are paid by the federal Treasury.

The FEC has not set primary election spending limits yet, but the commission has predicted that each candidate would be allowed to spend between $32 million and $33 million.

The maximum amount a candidate could receive in matching funds is now estimated at $13.8 million, the FEC said.