Sen. John McCain, as expected, has the home-field advantage when it comes to raising money in Arizona for his presidential bid.
He also has the home-court and home-ice advantage.
McCain, an avid sports fan, has received financial contributions and big-money pledges from executives and owners of the four Phoenix-area major sports teams, as well as owners and executives of teams from around the country.
It is common for business owners and executives to contribute to political campaigns, and sports leaders are no different, experts and executives said.
The president typically has a ceremonial role involving sports teams by hosting championship squads at the White House. But McCain, as a senator, has spoken out against steroid use in baseball and has proposed reforms to boxing.
The business of sports also has become a big issue on Capitol Hill as members of Congress this year have taken an interest in whether former baseball star Roger Clemens lied about using performance-enhancing drugs and why the NFL destroyed evidence in the New England Patriots video scandal.
Donors typically raise money for a candidate because they believe in what that person stands for or they may want to curry favor with a politician, and many sports owners also have other business interests.
"We have a policy that if any season-ticket
holder runs for president of the United States, we are going to support him," said Michael Bidwill, president of the Arizona Cardinals. "He's been a season-ticket holder for 20 years."
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