In-House Counsel

GCs Back Obama With Campaign Cash

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The nation’s top general counsel have poured more money into the campaign coffers of Barack Obama than any other candidate.

Corporate Counsel’s analysis of Election Commission records shows general counsel in the top 100 gave Obama $20,600, Hillary Clinton $14,500, Christopher Dodd $13,000, John McCain $10,900, Rudy Giuliani $6,900, and Mitt Romney $6,900.

Former trial lawyer John Edwards got nothing from GCs. Twenty-nine general counsel out of the 100 best-paid GCs made donations to presidential candidates, according to records of contributions made through Oct. 29.

Lobbyist and lawyer Thomas Quinn of Venable told Corporate Counsel that Obama’s fundraising success in corporate America may be because of the fact that he isn’t taking money from lobbyists. Lawyers who can’t make contributions through third parties are contributing directly to Obama’s campaign.

Others pointed to Obama’s moderate stances on issues such as class-action lawsuits and antitrust enforcement as possible reasons for the support.

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