'Swift Boat' financiers big givers in 2010

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Much of the money pouring into Republican political groups this year comes from a few very rich people with a long history of political giving, records show.

American Crossroads, founded by Karl Rove, the political operative behind President George W. Bush, has received millions of dollars from the men who funded the 2004 "Swift Boat" attack on U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., The Washington Post reports. The biggest contributor, at $7 million, is Bob J. Perry, a home construction tycoon from Texas who was also the biggest contributor to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

Democrats are also getting money from old hands. But their funding is substantially below the Republicans, partly because some big givers, like liberal billionaire George Soros, have decided to sit this election out.

Jonathan Collegio, a spokesman for American Crossroads, said the group has also received many smaller contributions. He said there is a relationship between the Tea Party movement and the big-money political action committees.

"The intensity of the grassroots movement, starting with the tea parties, is what is driving the bigger contributors," he said.