The National Republican Congressional Committee held a Silicon Valley fund-raiser during the August congressional recess, collecting at least $40,000. The committee's Democratic counterpart has held several fund-raisers in the region this year, and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California was including high-tech representatives in meetings around the country.

Several Democratic presidential hopefuls have made multiple visits to Silicon Valley this year.

The region was among Bush's first campaign stops. He raised $1.6 million at a June event held in Burlingame, roughly halfway between San Jose and San Francisco, to make it convenient for donors from both.

Intel CEO Craig Barrett, who paid $2,000 to attend, thinks Silicon Valley is leaning toward Republicans.

"The Democrats kind of proclaimed themselves the Silicon Valley champions and (Al) Gore was the high-tech VP and, you know, talked a good talk, but I think perhaps Silicon Valley got a little bit disenchanted with lack of action," Barrett said.

Still, Barrett sees reason for dissatisfaction with the GOP, too.

"I don't think either party has a real feel for the threat to the U.S. high-tech industry from what's going on in Asia," he said. "I think they are both perhaps a little bit overly content with our current position and don't recognize the fact that the Indians and the Chinese are now in the game."

Barrett said the government was putting too many obstacles in the industry's way, such as export controls and proposals to require the deduction of stock-option expenses from corporate earnings.

Miller, of the Information Technology Association, said his industry is not as politically active as it should be, in part because it is unregulated and relatively young. Many see no need to "play the inside-the-beltway game," he said.

"I hope we learn before some crisis occurs and we have to do it," Miller said.

Ralph Trefney, an employee of San Jose-based Cisco, said he does not give to campaigns and does not want to.

"Whether industry wants to admit it or not, they're using this as a form of lobbying," Trefney said. "I would rather go back to the old law and methods and let the person, for the genuineness of honesty and integrity, be the winner and not be influenced by a cash cow."