"Dems cleaning up in record congressional fund-raising, special interests flock to donkeys

By: Mark Tapscott
Editorial Page Editor
04/09/10 8:20 AM EDT

Source Washington Examiner 

"The cost of the 2010 election cycle is on pace to break the record for a midterm election, set during the 2006 cycle," said Capial Eye Blog, which is produced by members of the staff at the Center for Responsive Politics. OpenSecrets.org is the CRP web site that is the authority on where political money is going.

"And across the board, Democrats, who now control the White House and both chambers of Congress, are on the receiving end of far more campaign cash than they were four years ago, according to a Center for Responsive Politics review of campaign finance data filed with the Federal Election Commission," CEB said.

What is perhaps most eye-opening here is the degree to which major special interest groups are giving to the incumbent Democrats despite the apparent advantage Republicans have going into the 2010 races, according to CEB:

"People and political action committees categorized by the Center as part of the health sector gave 32 percent more to federal candidates, parties and committees last year compared to 2005, increasing to about $55 million. Of this sum, 58 percent went to Democrats, compared to just 33 percent flowing to Democrats in 2005.

"People and PACs within the energy sector donated 30 percent more last year than they did in 2005, the Center found, giving about $26 million in 2009. Nearly 50 percent of this amount went to Democrats, compared to just 24 percent going to Democrats in 2005.

"Defense sector giving was 23 percent higher in 2009 than it was in 2005, at about $29 million last year, and contributions by people and PACs associated with ideological causes and single-issue groups were 21 percent higher last year compared to 2005, the Center found, increasing to $70 million.

"Furthermore, defense sector contributions went from 37 percent to Democrats in 2005 to 58 percent to Democrats in 2009, and ideological and single-issue giving went from 54 percent to Democrats to 70 percent."

Contributions from firms in the finance, real estate and insurance sectors remained essentially unchanged, however, according to CEB.

Givent that Republicans are almost certain to pick up large numbers of seats in November - and may even retake the House - one would expect special interest giving to be more balanced. Rasmussen Reports shows the GOP leading by a substantial nine-point margin on the generic congressional voting intent survey."