WASHINGTON – Special interest and lobbyist contributions accepted by the Democratic presidential candidates:
— Wesley Clark (search): Parlayed income of $60,000 as a four-star general in 1999 into a 2002 private-sector salary of more than $1.6 million.
— Howard Dean (search): Accepted a gift from the lobbyist for two companies whose executives stood to benefit from a state tax break for insurers that Dean, then Vermont's governor, signed in 1993. Dean then received more than $60,000 in donations over the next two years from the lobbyist to one of his own charity funds. Dean also accepted more than $13,000 from four special interests to give speeches.
— John Edwards (search): Took one donation in 2002 from a lobbying firm. He also collected more than $80,000 from people who aren't formally registered as lobbyists but who work for some of Washington's powerhouse firms. He also has accepted more than $150,000 worth of flights aboard the corporate jets of special interests.
— John Kerry (search): During the last 15 years, he has received nearly $640,000 from lobbyists, many representing telecommunications and financial companies with business before his committee. He has raised more than $225,000 from lobbyists for his presidential campaign.
Sources: Tax records, the Center for Public Integrity, the Center for Responsive Politics.
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