Healthcare PACs Tilt Toward GOP

(Besides the physician PACS, others, including hospital, nursing homes, health services and HMOS political action committees, contributed about $ 21 million,  some 58% to Republicans and 42% to Democrats, the data shows.)

This year's donations by physician and nurse organizations contrast with substantial Democratic contributions in 2010, and with the last presidential election in 2008. Two years ago, a total of $26.3 million was contributed, with $14.6 million to Democrats (56%), and $11.6 million to Republicans, (44%). In 2008, a total of $24.5 million was contributed, with $14.2 million (58%) for Democrats, and $10.2 million (46%) for Republicans.

Donations to Presidential Candidates
Of the $136 million Obama has raised to date, members of the healthcare industry, including physicians and nurses, have contributed less than $1 million ($967,291 to be exact,) and hospitals/nursing homes, $715,849, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. 

Of the $42.3 million former Massachusetts Governor and presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney has received, $642,703 was garnered from healthcare professionals and $314,377 from hospitals and nursing homes.

Romney's leading rival, Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator, has received $47,431 from health professionals, and $54,200 from hospitals and nursing homes. His mother, incidentally, was a nurse.

The healthcare boost to Republican congressional candidates and the overall support for Democrat Obama is not surprising to some election experts.