Democrats' gains shift campaign money tide

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-sun_shift_0203feb03,0,7939102.story

Business-related political action groups are directing more donations to party in power

By Stephen Franklin | Tribune reporter
February 3, 2008

As head of a political action committee that will dole out about $1 million by Election Day, Craig Wolf made a critical decision a while ago: He decided to shift his group's donations so that two-thirds will go to Democrats rather than, as before, to Republicans.

"I'm looking for people who support our issues," explained Wolf, president and CEO of the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America Inc. of Washington, D.C., which two years ago gave only about a quarter of its campaign contributions to Democrats, according to figures compiled by the Campaign Finance Institute, a Washington-based think tank.

Wolf appears to be part of a trend.

About 56 percent of the money given so far by corporate America—business-related PACs and individuals—has gone to the Democrats. That's a near reversal of what happened during the last election cycle in 2006, according to figures compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington, D.C.-based research organization.

And in a number of cases the increase in campaign funding to the Democrats, who have controlled Congress since 2006, counters long-term funding links between the GOP and business and trade organizations.

For example, most recent figures show that just under half of the insurance industry's money has gone to the Democrats, a level that the Democrats have not seen since 1990.

FULL story at link.

[scarletwoman]

1. It's so heartwarming, watching the Democratic Party gathering support from the only

constituancy that actually matters in this country, the financial elite.

Makes me feel so proud.

sw