Google’s David Drummond has divided loyalties in 2012

If campaign donations by chief legal officer David Drummond are any measure, Google is hedging its bets in the 2012 elections.

Drummond has made $15,000 contributions to both the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Drummond, a contributor to Barack Obama’s presidential bid in 2008, did not give to the GOP in the last two election cycles.

David Drummond

Google has forged strong ties to the Obama administration, before 2009 and since.

Director L. John Doerr, a big contributor to Democratic causes, sits on the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board. Another director, Intel CEO Paul Otellini, sits with Doerr on the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.

Google Chairman Eric Schmidt, a supporter of Obama in 2008 and a member of the campaign’s economic advisory team, now sits on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

Perhaps most importantly, company VP Marissa Mayer is a bundler for Obama’s re-election bid.

Yet Drummond’s ambivalence may be understandable, given the government’s current concerns about Google’s market dominance. Schmidt defended company practices in an appearance before a Senate panel last month.

Schmidt’s record of giving to both parties is more established than Drummond’s. He has supported the major Democratic and Republican committees over the last three election cycles.

Except for contributions to Google’s Netpac, CEO Larry Page has pretty much stayed out of the fray.

Analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics shows that the PAC has favored Democrats over the past two cycles, although not overwhelmingly.

Netpac has raised more for 2012 than it has for past elections. Most of that money is waiting to be spent.

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