Retirees, industries back McCain with their wallets

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Retirees are shoveling campaign donations to 72-year-old Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who in recent months has also scored major contributions from real estate, insurance, energy and financial industries, according to an analysis released on Wednesday.

The Center for Responsible Politics, using data from the federal government, also said that McCain has received at least $50,000 from a law firm founded by Charles Keating, who was involved in a 1980s savings and loan scandal that ensnared McCain.

McCain was one of a group of senators known as "The Keating Five," who collected more than $1 million in campaign contributions from Keating then, helping him fend off government regulation of his savings and loan.

McCain was cleared of wrongdoing but had exercised poor judgment, according to Senate investigators at the time.

According to the data compiled by CRP, McCain led Obama by almost two-to-one in collecting funds from retirees during June and July. The Arizona Republican received $8.1 million, while the 47-year-old Obama, an Illinois senator, got $4.5 million.

Public opinion polls show Obama running far ahead of McCain among younger voters.

With McCain set to formally accept the Republican Party's presidential nomination on Thursday, he no longer will be allowed to accept private campaign contributions and will rely on public funding.

Democratic opponent Barack Obama, who has been far outpacing McCain in private fundraising, has turned down using taxpayer dollars to finance his campaigning for the November 4 presidential election.

CRP said Obama leads McCain in contributions from lawyers, college professors and other educators, as well as the entertainment and computer/Internet industries.

The group, in its "Open Secrets" website, said McCain's biggest group of "bundled" contributions -- money from individuals who work together -- was from employees of the Citadel Investment Group, a Chicago-based hedge fund. June and July contributions from this group totaled $77,150.

The review of campaign donations covered the June and July period, with August figures still not available, according to CRP.

Among top contributors to McCain during June and July, according to the CRP figures, were:

Retirees, $8.1 million; miscellaneous businesses, $1.7 million; real estate, $1.7 million; lawyers and law firms, $1.7 million; securities and investment, $1.4 million; health professionals, $1.1 million.

Reform of the health care and financial industries likely will be a high priority for the next Congress and president.

(Editing by Patricia Zengerle)