Which candidates don't accept contributions from lobbyists?

Question

Read the link before answering.
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/select.asp?cycle=2008

EDIT: Obama2009, good point, but there are two candidates running that don't accept lobbyist money

EDIT: Lettie, they do list Ron Paul on the site, he’s just one of the candidates that hasn’t accepted money from lobbyists.

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/index.asp?cycle=2008

As for Senator Obama, he has received $76,859, but thank you for the extra info!

EDIT: Lettie your number is correct, I should have clarified.. $76,859, is the amount Senator Obama received from lobbyists.

I’m not entirely sure about the “idealogical” PAC contributions that both our candidates receive. I know that Ron Paul supporters started a liberty PAC, so I’m assuming that may be it, but I’m unsure. If I find any info I’ll post.

EDIT: Lettie, I’m not sure which chart your looking at.

This is the link that lists all the candidates that received money from lobbyists and the amount (I believe for third quarter fundraising)

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/select.asp?cycle=2008

I’ll post the info for you:
Lobbyists

Hillary Clinton (D)
$567,950

John McCain (R)
$340,365

Christopher J. Dodd (D)
$233,875

Mitt Romney (R)
$229,475

Rudolph W. Giuliani (R)
$212,100

Bill Richardson (D)
$134,950

Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D)
$114,460

Fred Thompson (R)
$90,000

Barack Obama (D)
$76,859

Duncan Hunter (R)
$30,900

John Edwards (D)
$18,900

Sam Brownback (R)
$17,225

Mike Huckabee (R)
$6,964

Tom Tancredo (R)
$250

EDIT: Lettie, yes! Perfect.. Gravel doesn’t take money from lobbyists either, but I’m not sure if he’s still running for president.

As for the groups, I don’t think there necessarily special interest groups, they may just be individual contributors that work in those specific industries, but I could be wrong.

EDIT: Lettie and Labken, I didn’t address the link because it it's not relevant to what I’m pointing out now. $50,000 is the amount Senator Obama returned in APRIL of this year, these totals are from THIRD quarter.

And Lettie, do you honestly believe that he’s telling the truth when he says he has no lobbyist or special interest influence? Not only has he directly taken money from lobbyists, apparently his donation policy has many loopholes..

I strongly suggest you look read the following links:

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/04/22/681/

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obamas-k-street-project-2007-03-28.html

http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2007/aug/21/Obama-lobby/
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Barack_Obama/Campaign_Financing

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/LA_Times_Obamas_refusal_of_lobbyist_0422.html

thanks for your input

Answer 1

wow your 2 links show without dispute that Ron Paul is the only candidate who isnt supported by lobbyists - there is a good reason though . He refuses to pander to special interest groups and despises the smoke and mirrors used to hide the money from corporations and lobbyists

Answer 2

All I know is this of the 2 candidates mentioned:

Ron Paul
Individual contributions: $8,229,811-100%
PAC contributions: $10,799-0%
Candidate self contributions: 0%
Federal Funds: 0%
Other: $27,843-0%

PAC Breakdown
Business:$10,500-77%
Labor: 0%
Idealogical: $3,153-23%

Barack Obama

Individual contributions: $79,218,370-99%
PAC: $6,775-0%
Candidate self contributions: 0%
Federal Funds: 0%
Other: $1,031,282-1%

PAC Breakdown
Business: $3,250-26%
Labor: 0%
Idealogical: $9,237-74%

They don't list Ron Paul on the site you gave. You have to go to Ron Paul Web Search and then click on Ron Paul contributions.
Edit: I started researching Jess. Those first answers just guessed and don't have a clue if they are correct or not.
Edit: Well, I guess I'm blinder than a bat & I am because I looked and looked. Guess I overlooked it. And just what all does the PAC consider idealogical? Not quite sure I got the gist of that.
Edit: Jess, go back to that site that you gave & click on Barack Obama's name and it says (I rechecked) $79,218,370-99%. I'm sure!
Edit: Jess, I must be misunderstanding how to read this chart or something because I know that Paul doesn't accept money from lobbyists, but after Individual contributions for Obama was $79,218,370-99% and after Individual contribution for Paul was $8,229,811-100%. And I know Ron Paul nor Obama are receiving that much from lobbyists. What's the difference? Please explain. I don't understand. It seems as of you're saying that Individual contributions are lobbyists money & that both of them are receiving it. That can't be right.
Edit: OK Jess, see if I've got this thing figured out. I've been studying it. The only candidates that I can find that don't receive money from actual lobbyists are Paul & Kucinich. But all candidates are accepting money from special interest groups and you just click on that particular group such as Commercial Banks, Oil, Pharmaceuticals, etc. For example: Giuliani has accepted $177,850 from Casinos/Gambling which is the most of any of them. Am I getting it now?
Edit: Jess, thanks. However, I did check out labken's website (labken right below me) and Obama had returned money when he found out it was from lobbyists. I knew that he had said in a speech that he wouldn't accept money from lobbyists and I was beginning to think he was a liar until I checked out that website. I guess there are so many people working on a campaign that it's hard to keep up with everything.

Answer 3

Take a closer look, do the totals included on the site you provide include the money the campiagn has returned due to there association with a lobbyist?

http://blogobama08.blogspot.com/2007/04/leading-by-example-obama-returns.html

Answer 4

Dont believe the hype all of them take money from Lobbyists. Whether its on record or off record. And dont get mad cause if you were in politics its probably a 99.9% chance you would too. Never say what you wouldnt do especially when you have never had the opportunity!

Answer 5

I know Ron Paul doesn't...but other than that....I know HIllary accepts the most.