The country's leading business and professional trade associations divided their political donations almost evenly between Democrats and Republicans in the 2008 election cycle. The political action committees of 107 top associations contributed a combined $74.2 million, 50.4 percent to Democratic candidates and 49.6 percent to Republicans, according to an analysis of PAC giving conducted for National Journal on December 9 by the Center for Responsive Politics.
The top donor was the National Association of Realtors' PAC, which doled out $3.87 million, 57 percent to Democrats and 43 percent to Republicans in 2008. No. 2 was the National Beer Wholesalers Association with $2.85 million in donations, 52.8 percent to Democrats and 47.2 percent to Republicans. The National Automobile Dealers Association came in third, contributing $2.73 million, 66.1 percent to Republicans and 33.9 percent to Democrats.
In the 2006 cycle, by contrast, these business groups lined up staunchly behind Republicans, giving a total of $73.5 million, 63.5 percent to GOP candidates and parties, and 35.9 percent to Democrats
Here is the complete list for 2008:
--Bara Vaida
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