Reply #3: a good question: And that's why they've given them so much $$$ --- ??? [View All]

[discman]

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.asp?Ind=F&cycle=2008>Open Secrets

The financial sector is far and away the biggest source of campaign contributions to federal candidates and parties, with insurance companies, securities and investment firms, real estate interests and commercial banks providing the bulk of that money. The sector contributes generous sums to both parties, with Republicans traditionally collecting a substantial amount more than Democrats. The finance sector, which has given upwards of 60 percent of its total contributions to Republicans in the past, gave just 54 percent of total donations to the GOP in 2006. This shift may suggest an effort to remain nonpartisan in order to maintain clout with the new Democratic majority in Congress. The sector donated $252 million to federal campaigns and candidates in 2006, with the National Assn. of Realtors, Goldman Sachs and the American Bankers Assn. donating the most.

2008 - Top Recipients through third quarter 2007

Rank
Candidate
Office
Amount

1
Clinton, Hillary (D)
Pres
$12,302,928

2
Giuliani, Rudolph W (R)
Pres
$10,609,778

3
Romney, Mitt (R)
Pres
$10,184,193

4
Obama, Barack (D)
Pres
$9,834,870

5
Dodd, Christopher J (D)
Pres
$5,212,168

6
McCain, John (R)
Pres
$5,208,827

7
Richardson, Bill (D)
Pres
$2,127,032

8
Edwards, John (D)
Pres
$2,046,230

9
Biden, Joseph R Jr (D)
Pres
$1,321,819

10
Thompson, Fred (R)
Pres
$1,198,735