United States:Corporate America is pouring money into the US presidential campaign at an unprecedented rate, with a torrent of donations coming from the businesses behind the subprime mortgage crisis, a campaign finance watchdog group has reported.
Leading all corporate donors in campaign donations as of the end of last year was investment banking giant Goldman Sachs, the Centre for Responsive Politics says. The next four largest corporate donors were Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch.
Investment banks, commercial banks and real estate companies altogether have pumped almost $34 million into the presidential race, with Democratic leaders Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama getting most, the centre said.
This year's presidnetial contest is shaping up to the costliest ever in US history. "Already the whole field has raised $582.5 million," said Massie Ritsch, spokesman for the centre.
Senators Clinton and Obama have each taken in more than $5 million from securities and investment firms, and Republican Mitt Romney, over $4 million. Property has not been far behind, donating $4.8 million to Clinton and $3.7 million to Romney.
Illinois's Obama has raked in $2.7 million, and John McCain got $1.9 million from real estate interests including mortgage brokers, homebuilders and property developers.
Lawyers and law firms have donated $26.6 million to date in the 2008 cycle.
- ( Reuters)