Edwards returns lobbyists’ campaign donations

updated 7:43 a.m. ET July 25, 2007

RALEIGH, N.C. - Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards, who reiterated his commitment Tuesday to never accept campaign donations from special interest groups, recently returned $3,400 from lobbyists.

Edwards spokeswoman Colleen Murray said the campaign returned some money donated by a registered lobbyist last week, and money from two others was refunded Tuesday after The Associated Press inquired about the donations.

“We take every precaution possible, but sometimes people slip through, and when we find lobbyist money we refund it immediately,” said Edwards spokeswoman Colleen Murray.

Edwards has long eschewed campaign donations from lobbyists and political action committees, a stand dating to his first run at political office — a successful campaign in 1998 for a U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina. Asked about that policy Tuesday during a campaign event in Georgetown, S.C., Edwards firmly declared himself clean of special interest donations.

“I’ve never taken political contributions from Washington lobbyists or PACs of any kind, and I’ll continue to do that,” Edwards said, drawing applause during a town hall at a Steelworkers Union Hall.

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But Robert Giroux, a lobbyist for the Service Employees International Union, contributed $1,500 to Edwards’ campaign in May, according to federal campaign finance and lobbying records. The records indicate the donation came in mid-May, a few weeks after Giroux registered as a lobbyist.

‘National interests up front’
Randall Kelly, a veteran lobbyist who has represented The Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition, also gave Edwards a total of $1,500 over the past three months. Kelly has also contributed $500 to the campaign of Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, who has decided to accept such money.

Frank Lloyd, who is registered to lobby on behalf of Cablevision Systems Corp., donated $400 in June.

Murray said Kelly’s donation was returned last week. The donations from Giroux and Lloyd were refunded Tuesday.

One of Edwards’ top Democratic rivals, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, has vowed repeatedly to refuse money from special interests during his run for the White House — a theme he echoed in a debate Monday night.

“We’ve got to get the national interests up front as opposed to the special interests,” said Obama, whose campaign in April refunded more than $50,000 in contributions after discovering the donors were lobbyists.

Edwards raised $23.1 million in the first half of 2007. That ranks him third among Democrats, but he lags far behind New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Obama. As of the quarter ending June 30, Edwards has $13.3 million cash on hand, compared to Clinton and Obama, who have $45.2 million and $36.3 million. Clinton is accepting money from lobbyists.

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