Heading into today's election, U.S. Senate candidate W. Mitt Romney leads his opponent, U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass), in at least one race--the battle for campaign contributions from Harvard faculty and staff.

A review of campaign finance reports submitted to the Federal Elections Commission reveals that since July, 1, University employees have contributed $10,300 to Romney's campaign, compared to $9500 for Kennedy's re-election effort.

The largest number of contributions came from Business School faculty members. Ten professors donated a combined $9250 to the Romney campaign, and two professors contributed $2400 to Kennedy's re-election effort.

Dean of the Business School John H. McArthur contributed $1000, records of the election commission show.

McArthur was not available for comment yesterday, according to Business School Director of Communications Loretto F. Crane.

Romney graduate from the Business School in 1975.

Professor of Business Administration Dorothy A. Leonard-Barton, who contributed $400 to Romney's campaign, said the Republican's strong support at the Business School may come from "personal contacts" he has made with professors.

"He was introduced to me by some colleagues," she said. "But [my contribution] has nothing to do with Harvard Business School-it was for personal reasons."

The largest single contributors since July 1 are Professor of Business Administration Rosabeth Moss Kantor, Figgie Professor of Business Administration Kim B. Clark '74 and Christensen Professor of Business Administration Michael E. Porter.

Since July 1, 1994, Harvard faculty and staff and contributed at least $19,800 to the Kennedy and Romney campaigns. Leading Harvard donors: Kennedy donors Rosabeth Moss Kantor  $2000 Professor of Business Administration Jane H. Coriette  $1900 Director of Government relations for Health Policy Francis M. Bator  $1000 Littauer Professor of Political Economy Alan M. Dershowitz  $1000 Frankfuter Professor of Law Margaret H. Marshall  $1000 Vice President, and General Counsel Nicholas T. Zervas '50  $1000 Higgins Professor of Neurosurgery

Romney donors Kim B. Clark '74  $2000 Figgle Professor of Business Administration Michael E. Porter  $2000 Christensen Professor of Business Administration Steven Wheelwright  $1500 Class of 1949 Professor of Business Administration H. Kent Brown  $1000 Harding Professor of Business Administration John H. McArthur  $1000 Dean, Harvard Business School Source: Federal Election Commission

Kantor has donated $2000 to Kennedy's campaign, while Clark and Porter have pledged $2000 to Romney's cause.

None of the three professors were available for comment yesterday.

Kennedy Backers

Kennedy's supporters came from the University administration and six of Harvard's professional schools. Since July, Jane H. Corlette, director of governmental relations for health policy, has donated $1900 to Kennedy's re-election effort.

Earlier this year, Corlette said she has contributed to Kennedy's campaigns "for personal reasons," not as a representative of Harvard University.

Several Harvard faculty and staff members--including Littauer Professor of Political Economy Francis M. Bator, Frankfurter Professor of Law Alan M. Dershowitz, Vice President and General Counsel Margaret H. Marshall and Higgins Professor of Neurosurgery Nicholas T. Zervas '50--have given $1000 apiece to Kennedy since July 1.

"I think that Ted Kennedy has been a superb senator. I think the opponent is very weak, inexperienced and weak," Bator said. "I think his helping the University is one consideration, but he'll benefit the country."

Other Campaigns

Harvard faculty and staff have contributed to other campaigns, both within and outside Massachusetts.

University Marshal Richard M. Hunt has given $2000 to the campaign of Richard W. Fisher '71, a Democrat trailing far behind U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.).

"I think highly of him. I know him extremely well, and I know his record and his positions," Hunt says. "He is a Harvard graduate and a friend from the Kennedy School."CrimsonJoel SawadyBRIDGER E. McGRAW holds a Kennedy sign near the Square yesterday. Former Michigan governor GEORGE ROMNEY (inset) campaigns for his son, Republican senatorial candidate Mitt, at North Station.