Candidates Slam Lobbyist Clout but Rely on Their Advice

WASHINGTON — Despite a campaign that resembles a brawl, the remaining three presidential candidates have come together on one theme: All slam the power of Washington's well-heeled lobbyists.

At the same time, all three candidates rely — to some degree — on the advice, expertise and fundraising abilities of K Street's famed lobbying community.

John McCain, the presumed Republican nominee and who has long fought against special interest money and influence as an Arizona senator, put a veteran lobbyist in command of his presidential effort.

Rick Davis, his campaign manager, co-founded a lobbying firm whose clients have included BellSouth and Verizon.

McCain's finance chairman, Tom Loeffler, a former Texas congressman, represents a long list of corporate interests, including the European Aeronautic & Space Company, which recently beat out Boeing for a $35 billion contract to provide Air Force air tankers.

Defending the role of lobbyists in his presidential effort, McCain told reporters, "They are honorable people, and I'm proud to have them as part of my team."

Campaign spokesman Brian Rogers Friday rejected suggestions that having lobbyists and former lobbyists in the campaign smacks of hypocrisy. "No one has done more to clean up Washington and take on special interests than John McCain," he said.

Hillary Clinton has also berated the special interests, yet her bid for the Democratic nomination depends heavily on funds and advice from lobbyists. She has received the most money of any candidate from K Street. Some of her most visible advisers come from the lobbying community — most notably Harold Ickes Jr., who heads the New York senator's drive to woo the freelance "super-delegates" to the party's nominating convention.

Even Sen. Barack Obama, who swore off contributions from currently registered lobbyists, has a team of ex-lobbyists helping to raise money. His campaign has also recruited endorsements and strategic advice from a handful of lobbyists, including former South Carolina governor Jim Hodges.

Former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle, now special counsel to the Atlanta-based law and lobbying firm Alston & Bird, is one of Obama's most prominent advisers.

Neither the Clinton nor Obama campaigns returned calls seeking comment on lobbyists.

Craig Holman of Public Citizen, a watchdog group that monitors the role of money in politics, said Obama has "gone the extra mile" to keep free of lobbying funds, but "he does rely on some of the skills and connections that some lobbyists have."

Clinton depended heavily on lobbyists' money because she rushed to raise an early "war-chest," Holman added. "Lobbyists are the ones who are right there all the time — to raise money and run fundraisers."

As for McCain, "he was flat out running out of money, so he had to rely on what resources he could to keep the campaign alive," Holman said.

He and others argued that having lobbyists and ex-lobbyists as advisers is less problematic than relying on their money.

"You want people on your campaign who know the issues," said Larry Noble, ethics counsel at Scadden Arps, one of the top K Street firms. "The reality is, in Washington, a lot of the people who know the issues are lobbyists."

Rich Gold, who oversees much of the lobbying effort by Holland & Knight, argued that the desire to gain influence is not the major reason why most lobbyists join campaigns.

"Ten to 20 percent (of the motivation) is 'maybe it will help me with business opportunities,'" but mostly, it's the "adrenaline rush" of getting involved, he said.

Insider advice on how Washington works can be a big benefit, he held: "The best example of the one who tried to shut out the Washington establishment from the campaign and from governing was Jimmy Carter, and his presidential agenda was largely unsuccessful."

Here is a rundown on the lobbyist factor in the three presidential campaigns:

1. Donations from registered lobbyists, employees of lobbying firms and their families:

Clinton: $880,790

McCain: $584,652

Obama: $114,713 *

Source: Center for Responsive Politics' study of Federal Election Commission filings as of the end of February.

*Obama's total includes donations from employees and families connected to lobbying firms but not registered lobbyists.

2. Number of lobbyists and ex-lobbyists who are major fundraisers for campaigns:

McCain: 66

Clinton: 22

Obama: 14

Source: Public Citizen

3. Notable lobbyist and former lobbyists in key roles of the campaigns:

McCain:

—Rick Davis, campaign manager, has represented GTech Corporation, Bell South, Airborne Express, and Verizon. His last registered lobbying was in 2005.

—Charlie Black, senior adviser, who has represented a long line of corporate interests, including AT&T, Lockheed Martin, and U.S. Airways.

—Tom Loeffler, finance chairman, has represented ATT&T, Bristol-Myers Squibb, as well as EADS North America Inc., maker of the Airbus.

Clinton:

—Harold Ickes Jr., chief of the super-delegate campaign, has recently represented the private trade group Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care and the American Federation of Teachers.

—Steve Ricchetti, deputy chief of staff, has a lobbying firm that has represented General Motors and Anheuser-Busch.

—Tony Podesta, recent recruit for the Pennsylvania primary effort, whose firm has lobbied for the pharmaceutical firm Amgen, Dow Chemical and Google.

Obama:

—Steve Hildebrand, deputy campaign manager, gave up federal lobbying work for environmentalists to take the paid campaign post.

—Moses Mercado, who oversees super-delegate recruitment, is with the K Street giant Ogilvy Government Relations and has represented Pfizer Inc., the Carlyle Group and the Blackstone Group.

—Tom Daschle, campaign adviser, advises clients of Alston & Bird on "all matters of public policy," particularly financial services, heath care, energy, telecommunications and taxes, according to the firm's Web site.