Last-minute spending guide

It’s that time of year for last-minute holiday-gift buying and yuletide merrymaking. In the spirit of sharing, we thought we’d offer this list delineating campaign contributions given in the 2004 election cycle by some of the businesses you might be visiting these last few days before Christmas. Consider incorporating what you learn here into your own spending plans. Better yet, shun mega-corporations altogether this year and support local, independent stores with your purchases.

Shopping?

• Price Club/Costco donated $207,000, of which 98 percent went to Democrats

• Wal-Mart: $2 million, 80 percent to Republicans

• Home Depot: $716,000, 94 percent to the GOP

• Target: $314,000, 73 percent to the GOP

• Circuit City Stores: $117,000, 96 percent to the GOP

• Barnes & Noble: $104,000, 98 percent to Dems

• 3M Co.: $350,000, 80 percent to the GOP

• General Electric: $741,000, 67 percent to the GOP

• JC Penney Co.: $105,000, 81 percent to the GOP

• Amway: $238,000, 100 percent to the GOP

• Guess? Inc.: $63,000, 83 percent to the GOP

• Gap Inc.: $244,000, 61 percent to Dems

• Anne Klein Inc.: $66,000, 100 percent to Dems

• Donna Karan International: $38,000, 95 percent to Dems

• Eastman Kodak: $127,000, 67 percent to the GOP

Eating?

• Outback Steakhouse: $502,000, 98 percent to the GOP

• Brinker International (Chili’s, On the Border and Macaroni Grill): $148,000, 92 percent to the GOP

• Triarc Companies (Arby’s and Pasta Connections): $45,000, 100 percent to Dems

• Waffle House Inc.: $96,000, 99 percent to the GOP

• McDonald’s Corp.: $310,000, 80 percent to the GOP

• Yum! Brands (Pizza Hut, KFC, Taco Bell, Long John Silver’s and A&W Restaurants): $156,000, 83 percent to the GOP

• Pizza Hut franchisees association: $125,000, 95 percent to the GOP

• Darden Restaurants (Red Lobster and Olive Garden): $208,000, 91 percent to the GOP

Drinking?

• Coors: $227,000, 82 percent to the GOP

• E. & J. Gallo Winery: $225,000, 90 percent to Dems

• Brown-Forman Corp. (Southern Comfort, Jack Daniels, Bushmills and Korbel wines—as well as Lennox China, Dansk and Gorham Silver): $390,000, 64 percent to the GOP

• Phillips Beverage Co.: $84,000, 65 percent to Dems

Sleeping?

• Hyatt Corp.: $142,000, 87 percent to Dems

• Mariott International: $188,000, 76 percent to the GOP

• Hilton Hotels: $113,000, 61 percent to the GOP

• Holiday Inns: $53,000, 76 percent to the GOP