USTIN, Texas - Al Gore says at every campaign stop that he's ''for the people and not the powerful,'' but he hasn't been bashful when it comes to raising campaign funds from the nation's most powerful corporate interests.
While Republican George W. Bush is the clear favorite of Fortune 500 companies, Gore and the Democratic Party have collected more than $18 million this election from big names in American business.
From AT&T and Microsoft to Occidental Petroleum, the Fortune 500 have showered at least $59 million on both sides in the race - about two-thirds to Bush and Republican committees boosting his candidacy, and one-third to Gore and Democratic committees, an analysis of campaign reports shows.
''Al Gore's not being ignored by the corporate powers, even though he's clearly not their favorite. Neither will he ignore their concerns if he's elected,'' said Larry Makinson of the Center for Responsive Policies, a nonpartisan group that monitors campaign contributions.
Spokesmen for both campaigns said their candidates are not swayed by campaign donations.
''We're happy to have the support of America's industry,'' said Gore spokesman Jano Cabrera. ''That doesn't change the fact that Gore will stand up for America's working families against the special interests.''
Ray Sullivan, a spokesman for the Bush campaign, echoed that sentiment. ''Governor Bush makes his policies and decisions based on what he thinks is right, not on financial or political support,'' he said.
Among the biggest donors are companies seeking help or protection from the federal government, including tax breaks, changes in federal bankruptcy law that could help credit card companies, curbs on federal intervention in the price of prescription drugs, and requirements that airlines improve customer service.
Both Bush and Gore have framed their campaign messages as appeals to the middle class. On the stump, Bush says his education and tax-cut proposals would benefit ''real people,'' while the vice president promised at the Democratic National Convention to defend ''working families'' against ''big tobacco, big oil, the big polluters,'' and other corporate interests.
The big money in presidential races comes in the form of unrestricted soft-money donations to the parties.
The top donor among the Fortune 500 is AT&T, which has contributed more than $1.7 million to Republican committees and $1.1 million to Democratic committees.
