C-Span.org is a cornucopia of knowledge and database links. In addition to their great news coverage and weekend "Road To The White House" speech coverage, they also list Federal Election Campaign links to see just how much the political candidates have raked in over the past 18 months - to the candidates directly. Listed below are several candidates, either running for Senate in 2006, or up for re-election, or are considered potential 2008 presidential candidates. If they accepted PAC money, you'll know, and I've listed their names, contributions and any industries that gave over $100,000.
I thought this post would be of interest, and may provide another way to evaluate several Senators, especially of interest if they represent your state in mid-term elections this year. (Ffor example, five of the Senators accepted over a million dollars each in PAC money, while two did not take a single cent from them.)
The FEC database is currently set up to record contributions received in an 18 month timeframe covering January 2005 through June 2006. This link to the candidates is provided to assist you in easier FEC browsing:
GEORGE ALLEN received $7.6 million in contributions from individuals, and $2.1 million from PACS, including over $300,000 from Single Issue Groups, over $200,000 from Communications/Technology industries, over $200,000 from Finance/Insurance industries, over $200,000 from Energy/Natural Resources industries, over $100,000 from Retail/Business Groups, over $100,000 from Health industries, over $100,000 from Transportation industries, over $100,000 from Real Estate Groups, over $100,000 from Agriculture industries (top 9).
EVAN BAYH received $4.6 million from individuals, and almost (rounded up) $500,000 from PACS, including over $100,000 from Finance/Insurance industries, and Law and Health Care groups (top 3).
JOE BIDEN received $3.8 million from individuals, and accepted NO PAC MONEY.
JACK CARTER received $1 million from individuals, and $48,000 from PACS; three industries at less than $20,000 each.
HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON received $31.3 million from individuals, and $1.2 million from PACS, including over $100,000 from Organized Labor, over $100.000 from Finance/Insurance industries, over $100,000 from Law Groups and over $100,000 from Single Issue Groups (top 4).
(Fun fact: on the click-through Clinton page, it reads "Spouse: William Jefferson Clinton. Employer: Self-Employed.")
RUSS FEINGOLD received $2.4 million from individuals, and $30,000 from PACS, five industries at less than $20,000 each.
HAROLD FORD received $3.8 million from individuals, and $750,000 from PACS, including over $200,000 from Organized Labor, over $100,000 from Finance/Insurance industries and over $100,000 from Single Issue Groups (top 3).
JOHN KERRY received $4.2 million from individuals, and accepted NO PAC MONEY.
JOE LIEBERMAN received $5.9 million from individuals, and $1.3 million from PACS, including over $200,000 from Finance/Insurance industries, over $100,000 from Single Issue Groups, over $100,000 from Organized Labor, over $100,000 from Health Care industries and over $100,000 from Retail/Business Groups (top 5).
JOHN MCCAIN received $116,000 from individuals and $9,000 from PACS, representing Health Care, Organized Labor and Transportation (top 3).
BOB MENENDEZ received $5.8 million from individuals, and $1.3 million from PACS, including over $200,000 from Organized Labor, over $200,000 from Finance/Insurance industries, over $200,000 from Single Issue Groups, over $100,000 from Health Care industries and over $100,000 from Law Groups (top 5).
RICK SANTORUM received $11 million from individuals and $2.9 million from PACS, including over $500,000 from Single Issue Groups, over $400,000 from Health Care Groups, over $200,000 from Retail/Business Groups, over $200,000 from Energy/Natural Resources industries, over $100,000 from Law Groups, over $100,000 from Communications/Technology industries, over $100,000 from Transportation industries, over $100,000 from Manufacturing industries, over $100,000 from Agriculture industries, over $100,000 from Real Estate Groups (top 10).
JON TESTER received $1.5 million from individuals and $201,000 from PACS; four industries at less than $10,000 each.
JIM WEBB received $890,000 from individuals and $107,000 from PACS; several industries at less than $50,000 each.
Questions: 1) does it matter if a candidate accepts PAC money, or does it depend on the PAC? 2) Was this post helpful?