Who Is Giving to the Candidates?

July 18, 2007 — -- Many of the leading presidential candidates are attracting fundraising cash from donors working in some of the wealthiest and most lucrative industries in the United States.

Candidates are raking in cash from lawyers, lobbyists, Wall Street bankers, investment gurus, entertainers, and casino and gambling moguls, among others, according to an analysis of Federal Election Commission campaign reports by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

Lawyers and law firms are giving more money to former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards' campaign than any other candidate -- Democrat or Republican. Edwards, a former trial lawyer, took in over $6.5 million from legal eagles between January through June 2007.

People who work for commercial banks are banking their money on Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. He took in over $600,000 from the industry -- more than any other candidate.

Obama and his Democratic '08 rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., are attracting big money from the rich and famous in the entertainment industry. Actors, musicians, directors and producers have given about $1.6 million so far to Clinton in her race for the White House, and a little over $1.3 million to Obama.

Clinton is also being favored by lobbyists, who gave over $400,000 to her campaign in the first and second quarters.

Republican candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is taking in the most money from private equity and hedge funds firms, receiving almost $800,000 since he launched his campaign. However, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, who is running for the Democratic nomination, isn't far behind Romney, taking in over $727,000 for his campaign from the industry.

Dodd is also doing the best among donors in the insurance industry, taking in almost $600,000 in the first six months of the campaign.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's campaign is a high-roller for donors working in the casino and gambling industry. The former mayor received $160,000 from the betting industry, almost three times more than any other candidate.

Giuliani is also the favorite '08 presidential candidate among those donors working in the tobacco industry. Those donors gave Giuliani more than $60,000 and gave Dodd a little more than $45,000.

Despite his campaign's financial woes, Sen. John McCain's, R-Ariz., has pledged to continue to fight for his party's nomination. His presidential campaign may not have as much cash on hand as Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, but McCain is getting more money than any other candidate from telephone utility companies -- almost $150,000.