If you haven’t heard, apparently there will be a new president elected in November. In this day and age, you want to run for president? You better be working to gain campaign contributions. How much comes into the coffers of those running for president? The Center for Responsive Politics reported that the 2004 election brought in a staggering $3.9 billion in campaign contributions, up an astonishing $900 million from the 2000 election, a 30 percent increase.

When it comes to sports, owners and executives are looking to support candidates that they may simply see as having best interest in the country at heart. Or, it could be a matter of looking to gain influence, or both.

When it comes to sports, baseball surpasses all comers as largest contributor to presidential campaigns, according to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) by way of a report in the January 14, 2008 edition of the Sports Business Journal.

According to the report, a total of just under $250,000 ($249,025) had arrived into the coffers of presidential campaigns from MLB executives as of the third quarter of 2007 (candidates who had failed to gain significant contributions by the end of the filing period are not accounted for). Of that $249,025, 47 percent went to Democratic hopefuls ($117,200) to 53 percent to Republicans ($131,825). Compare those figures to the totals of other sports industries in the US:

• MLB: $249,025 (Dems.: $117,200 – Rep.: $131,825)
• NBA: $225,950 (Dems.: $149,450 – Rep.: $76,500)
• NFL: $158,000 (Dems.: $65,300 – Rep.: $92,700)
• NHL: $135,700 (Dems.: $58,850 – Rep.: $76,850)
• NASCAR: $98,100 (Dems.: $18,100 – Reps.: $80,000)
• MLS: $19,400 (Dems.: $10,200 – Reps.: $9,200)

Remember, the largest individual contribution that can be made is $4,600 ($2,300 for the primaries and $2,300 for the general election).

Which political candidate received the most from MLB executives? Unsurprisingly, it's Republican Rudy Giuliani. After all, Giuliani paved the way for a huge public outlay by way of New York taxpayers for New Yankee Stadium. Randy Levine, the current president of the Yankees, was Giuliani's deputy mayor when he was mayor of New York. Levine and the Yankees have since hired Giuliani Security & Safety for the Yankees. If Rudy could do what he did for the Yankees as mayor of New York, imagine what he could do for MLB as president?

On the Democrats side of the coin, it's former First Lady, and current Senator from New York, Hillary Clinton at $43,800. In a sign that it is Republicans that still have the pull with MLB executives, Clinton lands in at #3 overall behind Republican Mitt Romney at $49,325.

The second most in contributions for the Democrats goes to Barack Obama at $36,550. With Obama the Senator from Illinois, there are more than a few White Sox executives including Allan Muchin, Judd Malkin, and yes, Jerry Reinsdorf.

(Select Read More to see the rest of this article, including details on who in MLB is contributing and how much)

Here’s a handful of notable individuals in baseball and how they are contributing:

• Bud Selig (Commissioner) - $4,600 – Chris Dodd
• Frank and Jamie McCourt (Dodgers) – $2,300 ea. – Hillary Clinton
• Mark Attanasio (Brewers) – $4,600 – Hillary Clinton
• Arte Moreno (Angels) – $4,600 – Rudy Giuliani
• John Scully (Giants) – $4,600 – Mitt Romney
• Allan Muchin (White Sox) – $4,600 – Barack Obama

In the case of Selig, he considers Dodd “a very good friend” and not only has donated to his presidential campaign, but also made two $2,300 donations to Dodd as part of his congressional connections.

How about at the organization level?

24 clubs have execs that have donated (plus five individuals referenced as “MLB”, including Bud Selig).

Below is a breakdown by club level:

• Giants – 13
• Rangers – 11
• White Sox – 9
• Red Sox - 7
• Mariners – 5
• Yankees – 5
• Twins – 5
• Reds – 5
• Braves – 5
• Diamondbacks – 5
• Phillies – 4
• Athletics – 4
• Dodgers – 4
• Cardinals – 3
• Nationals – 3
• Padres – 2
• Brewers – 2
• Angels – 2
• Royals – 2
• Tigers – 2
• Rockies – 2
• Orioles – 2
• Pirates – 1
• Cubs – 1

Some may wonder if the situation with Barry Bonds has anything to do with the large number of contributors within the Giants organization. That would seem highly speculative. It simply mean that there are more execs in the Giants interested in politics than other organizations. But, it does certainly make for interesting fodder.

Remember, these figures represent just monies flowing to presidential candidates. As we reported in two articles, A Deeper Look at Political Lobbying and MLB  and Money, Politics, and MLB's Political Action Committee, there is even more money flowing into the coffers of those in Congress (for a detailed breakdown of who has donated where through MLBPAC, see the expansive table provided in Money, Politics, and MLB's Political Action Committee).

And, it is the two together that make for an interesting view of Major League Baseball. After all, MLB has been singled out more than any other sport over the issue of performance-enhancing substances. There is also the ever present issue of baseball’s anti-trust exemption, matters such as broadcast agreements, such as we have recently seen with MLB Extra Innings. While Extra Innings continues to be carried on cable and satellite operators, it was very nearly made a monopoly with DirecTV holding the upper hand up until the very late stages of negotiations. By keeping close ties to politicians at all levels of government, MLB will continue to have access.

Consider this... Individual contributions from baseball are nearly split down the middle between the parties at both the presidential and congressional level. This may be due to nothing more than how the political leanings of the owners land at this point in history. But, given how baseball has its share of the aforementioned thorny issues, it seems clear that baseball will continue to work the political lobbying angle to its fullest on Capitol Hill, and the White House.

Complete Breakdown of MLB Execs Making Individual Donations to Presidential Candidates

Sources: FEC, Sports Business Journal, Center for Responsive Politics

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Maury Brown is the founder and president of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is also an author for Baseball Prospectus, Basketball Prospectus and is an available writer for other media outlets.

Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network.

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