The industry's contributions, which favored Democrats in recent election cycles, are now helping Republicans vie for control of the Senate.
Between February and June, financial, insurance and real estate interests contributed heavily to five Senate Republican candidates: Ohio's Rob Portman ($820,000), Pennsylvania's Pat Toomey ($728,000), California's Carly Fiorina ($650,000), Illinois' Mark Kirk ($618,000) and Florida's Marco Rubio ($613,000), according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.
Republicans say the shift in donations is another sign of growing concern about the Democrats’ agenda, which has included broad new financial regulations.
“We’re seeing a shift in support towards Republicans because the message of restoring accountability in Washington and serving as a check on the Democrats’ agenda of more spending and higher taxes is clearly resonating,” said Brian Walsh, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Seven of the top 10 recipients of financial industry contributions from February to June were Republicans, the data shows. New York Democratic Sens. Charles Schumer ($1.52 million) and Kirsten Gillibrand ($788,000), and Connecticut Democratic Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal ($707,000) were also among the top 10 recipients.
Rounding out the top 10 were House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va., $818,000) and House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio, $589,000).
The Center for Responsive Politics first noticed a change in the financial industry's pattern of giving in February, when 17 of the top 25 recipients of contributions were Republicans.
"This was not a blip. There was a dramatic change and it has persisted," said Dave Levinthal, communications director at the center. "We see no indication of it stopping."
The five GOP candidates represent some of the party's best opportunities to pick up seats in the Senate. Democrats have tried to use the candidates’ Wall Street connections against them.
I can see the headline now-"Republicans taking campaign contributions from big business special interest groups on Wall Street". The fact that they are doing it because the dummycrats are destroying their business, or that up until now it was they who were taking the contributions won't be mentioned.
ReplyDeletearen't most republicans just former wall street execs?
ReplyDeletethis is he reality that prevents moderates like me from ever casting a vote for a republican.
If dems' don't care bout the everyman, republicans care even less.
Wall Street, hopes for the privatization of social security, so they can make billions in commissions.
ReplyDeleteJust like in 08 where 7 in 10 wallstreet dollars went to the Dems.
ReplyDelete