A Center for Investigative Reporting investigation for Politico found candidates -- in their rush to raise money -- have been relying on fundraisers with shady histories.From Politico:
A fundraiser for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney was recently suspended from practicing law. A backer of Democrat Barack Obama defaulted on loans. And a bundler for Republican Rudy Giuliani was once accused of sexual harassment.
Not long ago, the presidential campaign of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) was giving away money and promising tougher vetting standards after one of its top fundraisers, Norman Hsu, turned out to be on the lam on a grand theft rap.
The system we have now was largely shaped by President Bush's 2000 campaign. His bundlers would deliver lump sums of $100,000 or $200,000 from donors -- with the "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" understanding of influence after the election. (Politico, HT: IRE)
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