NU Online News Service, March 26, 2004, 5:58 p.m. EST – The insurance industry has contributed more than $14 million to U.S. political candidates this election cycle.[@@]
The Center for Responsive Politics, Washington, has published that figure in a report based on data released Feb. 9 by the Federal Election Commission.
The insurers, insurance organizations and individuals included in the insurance industry category gave more than 68% of their contributions to Republicans. The insurance industry as a whole accounted for $2 million of the $159 million that President Bush had raised by Feb. 9, the center says.
In early February, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., still had significant competition for the Democratic presidential nomination. All Democratic presidential candidates combined had raised a total of about $549,000 from the insurance industry. The insurance industry accounted for $152,000 of the $41 million that Kerry had raised.
The insurance industry also gave about $11 million to Republican congressional candidates, with $7.3 million going to Republicans and $3.7 million going to Democrats.
