Nuke's

John McCain. Surprised?

Public Citizen reported that the number of campaign cash “Bundlers” employed by John McCain is greater than any other Republican candidate: more than anyone in the race other than John Edwards.

McCain also enjoys the dubious distinction of employing more “Lobbyist Bundlers” than any other candidate – in fact, more than the entire Democratic field combined. In this crowded field of candidates from both parties, 115 Lobbyist Bundlers ply their trade for the candidates. 32 of the 115 work for….. John McCain

His signature issue in 2000 was getting the money out of politics. Does anyone else find it just a bit ironic, that the man who wrote the rules for reforming the campaign finance laws would be able to so skillfully take advantage of the fundraising possibilities in McCain-Feingold? See for yourself.

WaPo’s Jeffrey H. Birnbaum and John Solomon present an interesting take, “Unlikely Ties to K Street.”

In addition to receiving campaign cash, McCain relies heavily on K-Street for campaign guidance as well.

Here is an excerpt:

McCain’s campaign has also been guided by lobbyists. Davis, the campaign manager, is a former lobbyist who represented major telecommunications companies. The campaign’s senior adviser is Charles R. Black Jr., chairman of BKSH & Associates, which represents drug companies, an oil company, an automaker, a telecommunications company, defense contractors and the steel industry, among others.

Former congressman Tom Loeffler (R-Tex.) was brought in to shore up the campaign’s finances and operations. Yet he maintains his day job as chairman of the Loeffler Group, whose clients include oil, auto and telecommunications companies, as well as a tobacco firm and an airline.

Other occasional McCain advisers include lobbyists Timothy P. McKone of AT&T, Robert S. Aiken of Phoenix-based Pinnacle West Capital, John W. Timmons of the Cormac Group and John Green of Ogilvy Government Relations. Also at Ogilvy is a major McCain fundraiser, Wayne L. Berman.

Their firms’ clients have been a significant source of contributions to McCain’s campaign.

Newt Gingrich says, “John McCain is an American hero: a unique character in his own right.”

Certainly he earned our respect as an Aviator, a POW, and the longevity of service as a “maverick” lawmaker, however, “American Hero” may be a bit of a stretch.

But, his actions with re-writing of the campaign finance laws, and then using them to his advantage make “a unique character in his own right,” a spot-on evaluation of the senator.

Filed under: Election 2008, mccain, News and politics Tagged: | bundlers, campaign finance reform, Jeffrey H. Birnbaum, john mccain, John Solomon, lobbyists, McCain-Feingold, Newt Gingrich, norman hsu, Public Citizen, Washington Post