In 1999, Obama voted against an expansion of gambling, even though two of his biggest backers -- Rezko and Johnson -- were to share interest in a new casino planned in suburban Chicago.
And Obama backed a ban on fundraising on state property -- again teaming with Dillard -- an action aimed at Springfield lobbyists, like Alfred Ronan, noted for handing out campaign checks in the Capitol.
But there are other, less flattering examples.
Obama later would tap Ronan, who represented state gambling interests, and others in his firm for $10,500 in campaign donations. And in 2003, while running for the U.S. Senate, Obama switched positions and cast a decisive vote authorizing the state to operate casinos.
Ronan said his financial support for Obama was unrelated to any legislative assistance. "I supported him for U.S. Senate, and I support him for president -- and he voted against me 100% of the time; or, maybe it was only 98% of the time," he said in a recent interview.
The lobbyist also recalled that any time he had lunch or played golf with Obama, the state senator paid his own way.
As a presidential candidate, Obama has been critical of the congressional system of doling out money for pet projects. But he is no stranger to pork-barrel politics and the practice of spreading government money around his district. In Springfield he once directed state funds to a nonprofit group headed by a Republican and former ballot foe, Yesse B. Yehudah.
Yehudah barely registered a ripple of meaningful opposition, drawing only 10% of the vote in his 1998 challenge of Obama.
The following year, a nonprofit run by Yehudah, a social services organization called Fulfilling Our Responsibility Unto Mankind, began seeking state support. At the same time, Obama was considering mounting an ambitious challenge to U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush, a fellow Democrat.
Former foe Yehudah stepped up early to help. In November 1999, five people who worked for the Republican's nonprofit organization each gave $1,000 checks to Obama's congressional campaign committee. Yehudah makes no secret of his goal.
"We want [politicians] to know that when we sit down, we're serious," Yehudah said. "They know it when a $1,000 check comes in."
Obama lost his congressional bid. President Clinton backed incumbent Rush, who received twice as many primary votes as Obama. Obama was left with a $40,000 debt.
