This year, Obama transformed political fundraising by amassing record sums online from individual donors. This has allowed him unusual freedom from the system, including the lobbying industry and related corporate interests that fuel most national campaigns.
But when Obama ran for the Senate in 2004 -- and for a time after he arrived in Washington -- he raised substantial sums from lobbyists and employees of lobbying firms. Obama accepts money from lobbyist spouses and unregistered members of lobbying firms.
McCain, who has struggled with fundraising, accepts money from lobbyists and relies on an established network of lobbyist donors and bundlers.
As the controversy over lobbying connections has continued, Republican and Democratic lobbyists are expressing growing irritation with both campaigns, pointing out that their profession is built on a constitutionally protected right to petition government.
"If not for lobbyists," groused Stuart Roy, a strategist for Washington's Prism Public Affairs firm and a former aide to Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas, "McCain's campaign would be only half-staffed."
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tom.hamburger@latimes.com
chuck.neubauer@latimes.com
janet.hook@latimes.com
Times staff writer James Hohmann contributed to this report.
