The Top 50 Donors

Here is a breakdown of the top 50 contributors to Senator John McCain’s 1998 senate campaign and his current presidential campaign. The gifts were made by employees of the firms, their relatives, the companies’ political action committees and, when the information was available, their lobbyists. This list also briefly highlights what the top 10 contributors are seeking.

1. US West/QWest

Who: regional/long-distance phone company

What they gave: $103,700

What they want: Favor McCain bill to allow Baby Bells to provide high-speed Internet access. Want favorable resolution of disputes over Telecommunications Act of 1996

2. Bell South

Who: regional phone company

What they gave: $56,000

What they want: Favor McCain bill to allow Baby Bells to provide high-speed Internet access. Want favorable resolution of disputes over Telecommunications Act of 1996

3. Viacom/Paramount/Showtime/MTV/CBS

Who: media conglomerate

What they gave: $55,250

What they want: Favor McCain bill that would allow TV station groups to own stations that reach 50 percent of U.S. households, rather than the current 35 percent. Want favorable resolution of disputes over Telecommunications Act of 1996

4. AT&T/TCI/Media One

Who: media conglomerate

What they gave: $52,200

What they want: Oppose McCain’s high-speed Internet bill. Want favorable resolution of disputes over Telecommunications Act of 1996

5. Anheuser Busch/Hensley & Co.

Who: international beer manufacturer/Arizona distributorship owned by John McCain’s in-laws

What they gave: $51,563

What they want: Anheuser Busch does not want liquor to follow tobacco and guns as the next target of multibillion-dollar liability lawsuits. Jim Hensley wants his daughter to be first lady

6. Bell Atlantic

Who: regional phone company

What they gave: $41,500

What they want: Favor McCain bill to allow Baby Bells to provide high-speed Internet access. Want favorable resolution of disputes over Telecommunications Act of 1996

7. Goldman Sachs

Who: investment firm

What they gave: $39,755

What they want: Favor McCain’s Trading Information Act, which would preserve rights of online stock traders

8. Del Webb

Who: Arizona/Nevada developer

What they gave: $39,250

What they want: Access to Arizona’s senior senator

9. Union Pacific

Who: railroad

What they gave: $33,200

What they want: Favored 1998 bill that limited liability for private-rail firms that contract with Amtrak

10. Microsoft

Who: high-tech conglomerate

What they gave: $32,250

What they want: Favored McCain’s Y2K liability bill and the Internet Tax Freedom Act. Involved in myriad media/broadcasting/Internet issues. Want favorable resolution of disputes over Telecommunications Act of 1996

11. Arizona Public Service: $28,800

12. Mashantucket Pequot Tribe: $28,400

13. Phelps Dodge: $24,500

14. American International Group: $24,250

15. Burlington Northern: $24,000

16. Banc One: $21,300

17. Winstar Communications: $20,250

18. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: $20,100

19. Motorola: $19,659

20. NBC/General Electric/CNBC/Paxson: $19,500

21. Ameritech: $19,250

22. Fox/News Corp.: $19,050

23. MGM Grand: $17,883

24. CSX Transportation: $17,250

25. Boeing: $16,750

26. America West Airlines: $16,500

27. Arthur Andersen: $16,050

28. American Airlines: $15,450

29. Charles Schwab &Co.: $15,000

30. State Street Corp.: $14,500

31. Sinclair Broadcasting: $14,350

32. Sanford Bernstein: $14,250

33. Robson Communities: $14,200

34. Monti’s Restaurants: $13,750

35. Ford Motor Company: $13,500

36. Apollo Management: $13,500

37. Warburg Dillon Reed: $13,250

38. Snell and Wilmer: $13,200

39. Henderson Brothers: $13,000

40. Scruggs, Millette, Bozeman & Dent: $13,000

41. Boich Companies: $12,500

42. Global Crossing Ltd.: $12,000

43. Time Warner: $12,000

44. Univision Communications: $12,000

45. Arizona Cardinals: $11,740

46. Sea-Land: $11,625

47. Morgan Stanley: $11,500

48. United Airlines: $11,500

49. Viad Corp.: $11,000

50. EchoStar: $10,900