"Obama Backers Tied to Lobbies Raise Millions"

President Obama's car, outside a fund-raising brunch for his campaign that Mr. Obama attended in Medina, Wash., in September. (CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE)

Eric Lichtblau (New York Times):

Despite a pledge not to take money from lobbyists, President Obama has relied on prominent supporters who are active in the lobbying industry to raise millions of dollars for his re-election bid.

At least 15 of Mr. Obama’s “bundlers” — supporters who contribute their own money to his campaign and solicit it from others — are involved in lobbying for Washington consulting shops or private companies. They have raised more than $5 million so far for the campaign.

Because the bundlers are not registered as lobbyists with the Senate, the Obama campaign has managed to avoid running afoul of its self-imposed ban on taking money from lobbyists. MORE...