OpenSecrets and the presidential campaign

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Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: Top Recipients

{http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.php?cycle=2008 & ind=H4300}

1

Obama, Barack (D)

Senate

$511,421

2

Clinton, Hillary (D-NY)

Senate

$316,807

3

McCain, ®

Senate

$209,771

[http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/07/watchdogs-compare-mccain-obama.html]

Watchdogs Compare McCain, Obama on Donor Disclosure

Published by Massie Ritsch on July 30, 2008 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you follow this blog closely, you know that the Center for Responsive Politics and seven other watchdog groups asked McCain and Barack Obama to disclose more information to the public about two segments of their fundraising bases that account for a large share of the half a billion dollars they've already raised: their "bundlers" and their small donors. On July 11, McCain's campaign responded to our request and made some improvements -- but stopped short of agreeing to some other key requests. Obama's campaign still hasn't responded to our June 25th letter -- and it's been over a month.

So we decided to assess both candidates on the criteria we laid out in our initial communications to them. Are they being as transparent as they can be about the individuals raising big money for their campaigns and the individuals contributing small money, which adds up to big money?

Take a look at the comparison below, and see how Sens. McCain and Obama measure up. We've also shared this comparison with both candidates in letters we sent them today -- you can read both letters below. We're eager to hear what they say.

WatchdogFollowupwithMcCain7.30.08.pdf

WatchdogFollowupwithObama7.30.08.pdf

McCain Takes Pro-Transparency Steps at Watchdogs' Request

[http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/07/mccain-takes-pro-transparency-steps-at-watchdogs-request.html]

Published by Massie Ritsch on July 11, 2008 3:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This morning the Center for Responsive Politics and seven other watchdog groups received a response from McCain's campaign to our June 25th letter asking for greater transparency of the campaign's donors. We still haven't heard from Barack Obama's campaign. Here's a statement from our coalition of watchdogs, followed by the letter we got from McCain's campaign manager:

WATCHDOGS WELCOME McCAIN'S STEPS TOWARD GREATER DONOR TRANSPARENCY, CHALLENGE OBAMA TO FOLLOW

Lin Wessels

Sam's MAMA

(Mom on A Mission for Autism)

The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are. - Pierpont