WAYNE, Pa. -- Sen. Rick Santorum, who has been tapped by fellow Senate Republican leaders to draft legislation tightening restrictions on lobbyists, has received more money from lobbyists than any other congressional candidate so far in the 2006 election cycle.

Mr. Santorum, R-Pa., received $145,946 from lobbyists in the period from the start of the 2006 election cycle through Oct. 31, 2005, according to an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics based on the most recent data the Federal Election Commission has published.

Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown, was not far behind Mr. Santorum. He took sixth place, with $90,500, on the center's list of the top 20 recipients.

When the center's list is narrowed to House candidates, Mr. Murtha ranked first in both 2004 and 2006. He more than doubled the amount that former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, received from lobbyists in 2004. And Mr. Murtha was in the top five among House candidates in 2002 and 2000.

Massie Ritsch, communications director for the center, noted that a major factor in the rise in lobbyists' contributions to Mr. Santorum may be the competitiveness of his 2006 Senate race.

When Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., ran for re-election in 2004, he ranked fourth among candidates in contributions from lobbyists, with $398,078, over the 2003-2004 period. He trailed President Bush and his Democratic challenger, Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts, who were ranked first and second, respectively.

But Mr. Santorum's contributions from lobbyists are trending upward this election cycle. When he ran for Senate in 2000, he was 14th on the center's list, with $87,800, ranking just one spot behind his then-Democratic opponent, former Rep. Ron Klink.

To view the report go to the Open Secrets Web site.