Party Competition and Industrial Structure in the 2012 Elections

This paper analyzes patterns of industrial structure and party competition in the 2012 presidential election. The analysis rests on a new and more comprehensive database that catches more of the myriad ways in which businesses and major investors make political contributions than previous studies do. By drawing on this unified database, the paper is able to show that both major parties depend on very large donors to a greater extent than past studies have estimated. The paper outlines the firm and sectoral bases of support for the major party nominees, as well as for Republican candidates who competed for their party's presidential nomination. The paper shows that President Barack Obama's support by big business was broader than hitherto recognized. A central conclusion is that the sectors most involved in the recent controversies over surveillance were among the president's strongest supporters. The paper also analyzes patterns of business support for the Tea Party in Congress, showing that certain parts of the business community are more supportive of Tea Party candidates than others. The role of climate change, financial regulation, and other issues in the election is discussed at length.