Which Republican Presidential Hopefuls are Getting the Most MedTech Money?

For better or worse, money plays a huge role in politics. The candidates atop the polls are often the ones with the deepest pockets. Before a single ballot is punched, individuals and companies begin pumping cash to their favorite candidates. I took a look at the flow of medtech campaign contributions to see which candidates the industry is supporting in the race to become this year's Republican presidential candidate.

So far, the frontrunner is far and away Mitt Romney. As of December 5, 2011, the former Massachusetts governor had received $171,750 in contributions from the pharmaceuticals and health products industry (which includes medical device companies), according to OpenSecrets.org, a Web site that tracks money in politics. That's more than a quarter of all the contributions the industry has thrown at the 2012 election so far and more than the next six Republican primary candidates combined. 

In a distant second place in the medtech money race is former Texas governor Rick Perry, who has raised $55,750 from industry donors. Michelle Bachman and Tim Pawlenty—candidates affiliated with the state of Minnesota, where medtech is big business—follow at third and fourth place respectively, though both have suspended their campaigns.

The other candidates still competing with Romney for the GOP nomination haven't seen a lot of financial love from medtech. Texas Congressman Ron Paul has received just over $18,000 in contributions from the industry, while Rick Santorum, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, and former House Speaker Newt Gingerich haven't even hit the $15,000 mark.

But while Romney appears to be medtech's preferred candidate in the Republican primary, he's still trailing President Obama by almost $100,000 in contributions from the industry. Overall, though, the pharmaceuticals and health products industry has given more money to Republicans in the 2012 presidential race (57%, as opposed to 44% given to Democrats).

—Jamie Hartford