When the Dems go marching in

If you’ve been watching the Saints this season, then you’re probably getting a handle on the team’s playing style—and you don’t stop watching during the second half. This year’s team is a late-in-the-game bunch; that’s when the boys often turn up the heat. But what about the political preferences of the Saints? Do the folks making the money off of Louisiana’s penchant for pigskin prefer Republicans or Democrats? The folks over at the Center for Responsive Politics, a D.C.-based research group, asked that very question in a recent investigative study. The group has a knack for peeling back the layers of campaign finance reports on the federal level. In its NFL study, it found that the Texans lead the way in giving, about $293,000 since January 2009, almost exclusively to Republicans. The San Diego Chargers came in second with $171,500 given to federal politicians and committees and the Jets came in third with $147,850. As for the Saints, they ranked 19th out the 33 teams included in the study. The Saints’ players and top management have shelled out $20,800 in donations since the start of 2009, according to the report. Of that amount, 71%, or $14,800, went to Democrats. To take a closer look at the study, including a team-by-team spreadsheet, click here. —Jeremy Alford