Money Pouring In For No On 8

Last week's startling news that Proposition 8 appears poised for approval in California has brought an avalanche of donations to No On 8.

After sounding the alarm last week about its $10 million fundraising deficit, Equality California, the lead organization for the No on 8 campaign, has raised more than $3 million within California since Oct. 6, including a $1 million contribution Tuesday from the California Teachers Association, a Mercury News review of Secretary of State's Office campaign records shows. Meanwhile, out-of-state contributors, including actor T.R. Knight of "Grey's Anatomy" and financial guru Suze Orman, have made six- and five-figure contributions to Equality California, the umbrella group opposing Proposition 8.

Since Oct. 6, large contributions to ProtectMarriage.com, the lead group supporting Proposition 8, have totaled just $405,969. The No on 8 campaign has also received commitments for an additional $4 million in donations that have not been received, said Kate Kendell, a member of the campaign's executive committee. "That has been extraordinary, and has certainly we think helped us close the gap on the $10 million they had out-raised us, but we are not the least bit sanguine about this."

But the "Gavin Newsom officiates at gay wedding attended by first graders" story continues to provide free publicity for the Yes On 8 side.

Newsom was in the headlines again over the weekend, as conservative groups pointed out that a San Francisco first-grade class went on a field trip from school because their teacher was marrying another woman at City Hall — a ceremony officiated by the mayor. The class didn't attend the actual ceremony, but waited outside on the steps of City Hall to congratulate their teacher.

Newsom "bought them more free media than the yes side would ever have the money to purchase," McCuan said. "And conversely, he's raised the dollars, the cost, for his supporters. He just raised the bar for the amount of money they would have to bring in, and I would argue he's changed the game."

The story about a grade-school class being excused from class for a same-sex wedding "proves we're not lying" in saying that elementary school students will be taught about same-sex marriage in the public schools if voters reject Proposition 8, said Chip White, a spokesman for the Yes on 8 campaign. "This is real; this is happening." State school officials say those charges are misleading because local authorities have full control over what is taught about marriage.

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