Clinton nabs K St. backers her rivals shun

[DeepModem Mom]

The Hill: Clinton nabs K St. backers her rivals shun
By Alexander Bolton
March 13, 2007

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) has a network of lobbyists and political insiders three times the size of her closest Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), but many influential party members inside the Beltway are holding back to see how their race plays out.

Clinton has the support of several of the most prominent Democratic lobbyists, such as Thomas Boggs, Pat Griffin, Joel Johnson, Steve Ricchetti, and Mike Berman, who can raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for her campaign. Citing what he suggests is a new brand of politics, Obama has taken an extraordinary step for a presidential candidate by declining contributions from lobbyists. He is even shunning money they might raise for him from non-lobbyists.

This will force him to rely heavily on grassroots and Internet fundraising, a strategy that former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean (D) used to considerable early success in the 2004 presidential race....

***

Lobbyists and D.C.-based political insiders are helpful in several respects. They can raise money for candidates and put them in touch with networks of wealthy donors; they can provide political and policy expertise; and they can help generate media buzz.

“Most K Street folks have political experience — many of them have presidential campaign experience,” said former Rep. Vin Weber (R-Minn.), now a managing partner of Clark & Weinstock who is serving as policy chairman to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s (R) presidential campaign. He said organizing a presidential campaign is “like starting up a major corporation that will be in business only a few years. There’s a limited number of people who have expertise doing it.”...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/clinton-nabs-k-st.-backers-her-rivals-shun-2007-03-12.html

[Greeby]

1. Another reason why I don't want her to win the Democratic nomination

:eyes:

[flpoljunkie]

2. "Obama has taken extraordinary step for presidential candidate by declining lobbyist contributions"

He is even shunning money they might raise for him from non-lobbyists."

Another reason to support Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton!

K&R!

[Stephanie]

3. it's the Corporatists vs. the Populists

what more does anyone need to know?

[katsy]

4. Who nabs whom?

Shunned K St. backers nab HRC.

This expertise usually comes with a very high price tag.

[robinlynne]

5. good for Obama. as for the lobbyists "political and policy expertise'. hey we're dems,

remember? We don't like their "political expertise".

[SteppingRazor]

6. Political expertise doing what? Losing elections?

Political insiders sure served the Democratic Party well in '00 and '04, eh?

Oh, and they've been just BRILLIANT at congressional campaigns over the last decade, right?

:eyes:

[never cry wolf]

7. I likey, thanks for posting...... K&R