Bundlers for McCain, Obama Are Among Wall Street's Tumblers

Bundlers for McCain, Obama Are Among Wall Street's Tumblers
Massie Ritsch - September 18, 2008 - http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/09/bundlers-for-mccain-obama-are.html


How did Wall Street's largest firms also become some of the largest donors to John McCain and Barack Obama's presidential campaigns? Take a look at the candidates' rosters of bundlers on OpenSecrets.org, and it becomes clear.

McCain's list includes at least 69 individuals who, according to his campaign, have raised a total of at least $11.4 million for his campaign. That makes the struggling investment industry his top source of bundlers. (Bundlers are those wealthy individuals who hit up their coworkers, family and friends to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars, in addition to any contributions from their own pockets.) In the second spot is the real estate industry, where at least 55 individuals have delivered a total of $9.5 million or more to McCain. Overall, bundlers in the finance, insurance and real estate sector have hauled in at least $30 million for the Republican candidate -- far more than any other sector.

Obama's list gives the appearance that he has not leaned so heavily on bundlers ......

McCain Contributions:

1	Retired	 (unknown ??)  $23,536,345
2	Lawyers/Law Firms	$7,959,446
3	Securities & Investment	$6,893,293
4	Real Estate	        $6,796,844
5	Misc Finance	        $3,907,413
6	Health Professionals	$3,563,798
7	Misc Business	        $3,122,709
8	Business Services	$2,550,153
9	Commercial Banks	$1,868,224
10	Insurance	        $1,655,352

Top contributors:

1.   Merrill Lynch 	$298,413
2.   Citigroup Inc 	$269,251
3.   Morgan Stanley 	$233,272
4.   Goldman Sachs 	$208,395
5.   JPMorgan Chase 	$179,975

Donor Demographics
Percent Number & Total Amount
Female	28.0%	25261	$34,169,121
Male	72.0%	67854	$87,977,012