Pharma backs Dems 51 to 49

Pharma may be giving big bucks to presidential candidates--$9.1 million so far--but it's surpassed by 16 other industries, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Individual contributions accounted for $3.8 million of that total, with the rest coming from PACs. And the money has been split 51/49 between Democrats and Republicans.

What's more interesting, though, is how that money divides among the candidates themselves. Hillary Clinton has brought in $349,270 from pharma and health products companies, barely edging Barack Obama with $337,525. Now-history candidates Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani nabbed $318,226 and $165,675, respectively. The putative Republican nominee, John McCain, captured a comparatively paltry $97,597--proving that, when you call an industry the "bad guys," it's not likely to write you a big check in thanks.

- read our analysis [1] of the candidates' positions on pharma issues
- see pharma's giving history [2] at CRP
- check out the organization's candidate breakdown [3]
- watch the YouTube video [1] of McCain talking pharma during the NH debate

Related Articles:
The 2008 Election: What does it mean for drugmakers? Report [4]
Pharma lobbies big-time in '07. Report [5]
Drug lobby stalls pro-generics bill. Report [6]