Senator Barack Obama’s campaign said late Friday that it had returned more than $50,000 in donations after learning that the contributors were federal lobbyists, which the campaign had pledged not to accept money from.
Mr. Obama raised $25 million during the first quarter of the fundraising period. A spokesman said Friday that the campaign had returned 49 political contributions totaling $50,566.
“Giving back these donations is part of our best efforts to ensure we stay true to our commitment to not take money from federal lobbyists,” said Bill Burton, a campaign spokesman.
The disclosure came late Friday, two days before first-quarter fundraising reports are due at the Federal Election Commission. The campaign made the announcement to preempt its disclosure report, which will include names of at least some of the lobbyists because their checks were deposited and not caught until a more thorough vetting process occurred.
“As we’ve said and as this illustrates, this policy isn’t a perfect solution to the problem of money and politics and special interest sway in Washington,” Mr. Burton said. “But it
is an important symbol of the kind of administration that Obama will have in the White
House.”
Accepting contributions from registered lobbyists is not illegal, of course, but the Obama campaign chose not to take the money to burnish his image as a candidate intent on changing the business of Washington. The self-imposed ban applies only to federal lobbyists, not other members of their family.
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