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Concerns over lobbyists could become a barrier to the blending of the Democratic presidential campaigns.
Problems may arise when Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, begins to merge with rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s (N.Y.) massive fundraising apparatus.
The Illinois senator has a policy of not accepting contributions from lobbyists or having lobbyists as members of his campaign finance team. During her primary run, Clinton never had such restrictions and accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from K Streeters. A number of her fundraisers are active lobbyists today.
Supporters of Obama have reached out to top Clinton fundraisers, some of whom are registered lobbyists, according to a source close to the Clinton campaign. But several lobbyists who have raised funds for Clinton’s campaign told The Hill that they have not heard from Obama aides as of yet, with some expecting never to hear from them.
“Don’t think so,” said Heather Podesta, one of several Clinton fundraisers who are active lobbyists. “Being a lobbyist, it’s unlikely that he will approach me or their people will approach me.”
Head of her own lobbying firm, Podesta said she would not terminate her lobbying registration in order to fundraise for Obama’s campaign.
“That’s my livelihood!” she said.
According to Public Citizen, a public interest group, 22 Clinton fundraisers out of 322 are lobbying or have lobbied in the past. Thirteen of those are still active now, having reported their names on first-quarter reports filed with the Senate this past April.
In addition, Clinton has accepted more than $888,000 from lobbyists or employees of firms that lobby, more than any other presidential candidate this election, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
“It would provide a great deal of special-interest money for his campaign. Clinton’s donors have tended to max out, being from more of the wealthier, special interest set, so that would be brought into his donor base,” said Craig Holman, Public Citizen’s campaign finance lobbyist. “It would ratchet way down the record number of small donations he has pulled in so far.”
Obama’s ban on lobbyist contributions now extends to the Democratic National Committee, which will no longer accept donations from those on K Street — a decision announced after Obama clinched the nomination.
“We are confident that the Democrats will come together to change the way we do business in Washington. Which is why it is the policy of the Obama campaign not to accept contributions from Washington lobbyists or those raised by them,” said Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan.
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