By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor

Donald Trump has come under fire for his large donations to Democrats, including Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Senator Chuck Schumer, and Congressman Charlie Rangel. He gave to Dems, Trump has said, in races where Republicans have no chance.

Well Salon’s Steve Kornacki has poked a hole in that argument, noting that Trump donated $27,000 to Pennsylvania’s own Ed Rendell during his 2002 campaign for Governor well before Rendell was certain to win, and $5,000 in 2003 after he became Governor.

You should read the entire piece.

To sum it up, Kornacki suggests (probably accurately) that it was a business decision for Trump. Rendell was the pro-casino candidate, and Trump had an interest in competing for some of PA’s gaming licenses (he was later shut out).

Nonetheless, it’s another name in a long list that Trump will need to live down.