Texans give $3.5 million to McCain, $1.1 million to Obama in September
SMU political science Professor Cal Jillson talks about Texans having given more than $25 million to Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama to help fund their presidential bids.
By ANNA M. TINSLEY
FORT WORTH — Texans have given more than $25 million to Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama to help fund their presidential bids.
In the month after McCain chose as his running mate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin — the first female vice presidential candidate on his party’s ticket — he drew $3.5 million from Texans, new data shows.
During the same time, Obama received $1.1 million from Texans, according to an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics.
"There was an outpouring of Texas money related to the Palin selection," said Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University. "The problem Texans always had with McCain is he was seen as not sufficiently dependable on social issues, that he wasn’t a social conservative through and through.
"But when Texans found out Palin was a social conservative, they rallied to McCain and probably gave some additional money."
Overall, Texans have donated $52.4 million to all presidential candidates, including those no longer in the race, according to campaign finance data through September, which was released Monday.
# # #