Who’s getting the ‘special interest’ money this election? 0

The presidential race isn't the only one attracting big bucks this election season; members of Congress are getting some sizable donations too. The Center for Responsive Politics has been keeping tabs on it all. Here's how some environment-related sectors have been spending their cash this year.

Energy and natural resource sector: $58,519,935, this election cycle, between individuals and political action committees (PACs).

Democrats: 35 percent
Republicans: 65 percent

Top recipients:

• Republican presidential candidate John McCain (R-Ariz.), $3,553,141
• Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (D-Ill.), $1,675,100

Top congressional recipients:

• Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), $769,296
• Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), $578,350
• Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), $546,200

Gas and oil sector: $26,062,172

D: 24 percent
R: 76 percent

Top recipients:

• John McCain, $2,028,275
• former Republican presidential candidate Rudy Guiliani, $636,758
• Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn, $540,100
• Barack Obama, $523,133.

Natural gas pipelines sector: $2,280,007

Top recipients:

• McCain, $71,101
• Giuliani, $49,600
• Obama, $48,448,
• former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (N.Y.), $34,057

Top congressional recipients:

• Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), $34,050
• Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla), $31,900.

Coal mining interests: $2,640,226

D: 30 percent
R: 70 percent

Top recipients:

• McConnell, $126,350
• Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), $96,500
• McCain, $94,842.

General mining interests: $4,645,017

D: 31 percent
R: 69 percent

Top recipients:

• McCain, $187,562
• McConnell, $147,650
• Rockefeller, $112,500
• Inhofe, $82,100.

Farming: $13,986,128

D: 49 percent
R: 51 percent

Top recipients:

• McCain, $856,797
• Obama, $356,252

Top congressional recipients:

• Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), $249,599
• Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), $223,750.

Agriculture: $49,676,924

D: 40 percent
R: 60 percent

Top recipients:

• McCain, $2,933,838,
• Obama, $1,438,865

Top congressional recipients:

• Chambliss, $667,662
• McConnell, $657,737

Auto manufacturers: $2,157,399

D: 50 percent
R: 50 percent

Top recipients:

• Sen. Carl Levine (D-Mich.), $120,999
• Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.), $109,600
• Obama, $79,959
• McCain, $56,920

Environmental groups and individuals: $2,393,828

D: 92 percent
R: 8 percent

Top recipients:

• Obama, $238,250
• Rep. (and Senate candidate) Mark Udall (D-Colo.), $171,124
• Rep. (and Senate candidate) Tom Udall (D-N.M.), $78,716

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