Trial Lawyer Cash Flowing to Obama
Many trial lawyers who supported John Edwards in 2004 are now throwing their support—and money—to Barack Obama.
In the first quarter of 2003, personal injury lawyer Edwards received almost two-thirds of $7.4 million in campaign contributions from trial lawyers, their families and their staffs. But now trial lawyers may be supporting Obama because they think he has a better chance of winning, Legal Times reports.
“Frankly, I have got some torn loyalties,” says Dennis VanDerGinst, an Illinois trial attorney who is raising money for Edwards, Obama and Hillary Clinton. “I did support Edwards last go-around, and given his background as a trial attorney, I still have a soft spot for him, but from a practical standpoint I’m not sure I see him as the front-runner right now.”
The latest reports show Clinton and Obama have raised more than $20 million, while Edwards has raised about $14 million.
