GOP Outraising Dems Among Baseball Team Owners

In the front offices and luxury skyboxes of America's ballparks, Republican presidential candidates appear to be winning the contest for political contributions from the owners of Major League Baseball teams, according to campaign finance records at the Huffington Post's FundRace 2008.

Despite an early GOP lead in fundraising among the titans of America's pastime, at least seven club owners who have given heavily to the Republican Party in past elections have yet to open up their checkbooks for any of the party's declared candidates.

And Republicans hold only the slimmest of leads over Democrats in total dollars raised.

Through the second quarter of 2007, GOP candidates collected $25,800 from Major League Baseball owners.

Democrats pulled in $24,700.

The front office of the Arizona Diamondbacks has proven to be the friendliest to GOP candidates: Managing General Partner Ken Kendrick gave $2,300 each to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

His partner, Diamondbacks CEO Jeff Moorad donated $2,300 to Romney, and $2,300 to Arizona Sen. John McCain.

Boston Red Sox Chairman Thomas C. Werner is so far the most generous Democrat among team owners. The famed television producer has donated $2,500 to Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, $2,300 to former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards and $2,300 to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

Werner's partner, Red Sox Principal Owner John W. Henry, has also given generously to Democrats in the past, but has yet to back a candidate in 2008.

Few New Yorkers would be surprised to learn that Giuliani, an avid Yankees fan, has gotten $2,300 from club owner George Steinbrenner.

But across town, Mets Chairman Fred Wilpon is one of the George W. Bush donors from 2004 who are still sitting on the sidelines. The others are Cleveland Indians Owner Lawrence Dolan, Colorado Rockies Chairman Charlie Monfort, Philadelphia Phillies Chairman William Giles, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Owner Arturo Moreno, Kansas City Royals Owner David Glass and Minnesota Twins Owner Carl Pohlad.

On the West Coast, GOP ad makers love to rail against "liberal San Francisco" when attacking Bay Area politicos like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. But San Francisco Giants Managing General Partner Peter Magowan bucks the local political trends: Magowan gave $2,300 to McCain's campaign.

Chicago White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf is hedging his bets in 2008: he gave to both McCain and Obama. Reinsdorf's South Side office is a short drive from Obama's mansion in the Kenwood neighborhood.

Interestingly, although Dodd trails his Democratic rivals in opinion polls, he appears to be winning the baseball primary. With $10,900 in donations, Dodd collected more money from team owners than any other candidate.

Other Major League owners who have already given to candidates:

Team Giuliani
Arizona Diamondbacks Managing General Partner Ken Kendrick ($2,300)
New York Yankees Chairman George Steinbrenner ($2,300)
Texas Rangers Chairman Thomas O. Hicks ($4,600)

Team McCain
Arizona Diamondbacks CEO Jeff Moorad ($2,300)
Chicago White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf ($2,100)
San Francisco Giants Managing General Partner Peter Magowan ($2,300)

Team Romney
Arizona Diamondbacks Managing General Partner Ken Kendrick ($2,300)
Arizona Diamondbacks CEO Jeff Moorad ($2,300)
Cincinnati Reds CEO Robert Castellini ($2,300)
St. Louis Cardinals Chairman William O. DeWitt Jr. ($3,000)

Team Clinton
Los Angeles Dodgers Chairman Frank McCourt ($2,300)
San Diego Padres Chairman John Moores ($4,600)

Team Dodd
Baltimore Orioles Chairman Peter Angelos ($4,600)
Boston Red Sox Chairman Thomas C. Werner ($2,500)
Oakland Athletics Owner Lew Wolff ($1,500)
San Diego Padres Chairman John Moores ($2,300)

Team Edwards
Boston Red Sox Chairman Thomas C. Werner ($2,300)

Team Obama
Boston Red Sox Chairman Thomas C. Werner ($2,300)
Chicago White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf ($2,300)