Attention shoppers: That e-mail about the politics of your favorite retail stores is sort of correct. We decided to check out what the Center for Responsive Politics, our favorite source for campaign finance information, had to say about the top companies. CRP says it had nothing to do with the ubiquitous e-mail, but it does keep searchable, up-to-date data handy.
A message on its Web site also reminds us that since the end of 2002, corporations and labor unions cannot contribute directly to candidates; contributions by industry refer to the contributions by employees and political action committees.
2004 Top 20 Contributors:
Here’s a list of the top 20 contributors to federal candidates and parties in the 2004 election. Don’t worry, we checked this one twice.
| RANK | ORGANIZATION | AMOUNT | DEM. | REP. |
| 1 | Wal-Mart Stores | $2,005,516 | 20% | 80% |
| 2 | Home Depot | $716,270 | 6% | 94% |
| 3 | Ntl. Assoc. of Convenience Stores | $582,972 | 18% | 82% |
| 4 | Target Corp | $314,588 | 26% | 73% |
| 5 | Sears, Roebuck & Co | $268,544 | 24% | 76% |
| 6 | Limited Brands | $263,370 | 30% | 70% |
| 7 | Gap Inc. | $244,085 | 61% | 38% |
| 8 | Amway/Alticor Inc. | $238,788 | 0% | 100% |
| 9 | Costco Wholesale | $207,803 | 98% | 2% |
| 10 | National Retail Federation | $154,450 | 9% | 91% |
| 11 | Ntl. Assoc. of Chain Drug Stores | $153,350 | 25% | 75% |
| 12 | Walgreen Co. | $139,961 | 46% | 52% |
| 13 | Staples Inc. | $132,949 | 39% | 61% |
| 14 | Saks Inc. | $119,700 | 5% | 95% |
| 15 | Circuit City Stores | $117,300 | 4% | 96% |
| 16 | JC Penney Co. | $105,065 | 18% | 81% |
| 17 | Barnes & Noble | $103,850 | 98% | 2% |
| 18 | May Department Stores | $103,750 | 10% | 89% |
| 19 | Rite Aid Corp. | $96,975 | 48% | 52% |
| 20 | Windquest Group | $84,680 | 0% | 100% |
For more information on industry trends, go to www.opensecrets.org/industries.
