In a lengthy piece today, The New York Times details John McCain’s extensive connections to the casino industry and Indian gaming.
As a member and former chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, it’s not surprising that McCain would have many supporters in industry.
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Yet in 2008, both Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton rank higher in campaign donations from Indian gaming organizations. According to an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics, Clinton ranks second among congressional recipients (after Bill Richardson), with contributions totaling $82,375. Obama ranks 12th, with $56,100.
McCain isn’t on the list of top 20 recipients, having received $5,000.
The center’s analysis found that Indian tribes and the National Indian Gaming Association, the tribes’ chief lobbying group, have given $7.3 million this year to federal candidates and their parties.
The gambling industry as a whole has contributed $12.7 million. Giving in the larger sector has been led by MGM Mirage, whose chairman, J. Terrence Lanni, is a close friend of McCain and a bundler for his campaign. Lanni has raised more than $500,000 for McCain’s presidential bid this year.
After co-authoring the Indian gambling act and helping to fashion much of the legislation governing the gaming industry, McCain appears to distanced himself from the tribal casinos. In 2000, he was the top congressional recipient of their donations, taking in $39,400. This year, he has accepted $5,000.
As the Times reports, McCain stopped taking tribal donations after the scandal surrounding Jack Abramoff and his lobbying activities for Indian tribes.
However, less overt connections continue. The Times notes: “In his current campaign, more than 40 fund-raisers and top advisers have lobbied or worked for an array of gambling interests – including tribal and Las Vegas casinos, lottery companies and online poker purveyors.”
Campaign staffers told the Times that McCain was “justifiably proud” of his record on Indian gaming.
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