WASHINGTON--Insurance interests donated almost $2.3 million to presidential candidates last year, according to the Washington-based Center for Responsive Politics.
Using data released by the Federal Election Commission on Feb. 1, the nonpartisan group found that insurance interests favored Democratic presidential candidates, who received 54% of their largesse compared with 46% for Republicans.
Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., who has since dropped his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, received the most insurance-related contributions at $775,512. Second on the list at $749,245 was former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who left the race for the Republican nomination last week and endorsed Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
Former Republican Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney ranked third with $704,168, followed by Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. at $666,121. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., received $478,494, placing him fifth and Sen. McCain ranked sixth at $308,662. Former Republican Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee ranked 12th at $54,795, behind Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas who held 11th place at $81,516. The only other active candidate listed--former Democratic Alaska Gov. Mike Gravel--ranked last in 20th place with $500.
The Center for Responsive Politics calculates the totals from political action committees and individuals giving more than $200, as reported to the FEC.
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