Obama fundraiser defects to Clinton
Barack Obama's Campaign Loses Longtime Democratic Fundraiser to Hillary Rodham Clinton
NEDRA PICKLER
AP News
Oct 26, 2007 14:54 EDT
A longtime Democratic fundraiser has abandoned Barack Obama's campaign to help rival Hillary Rodham Clinton win the party's presidential nomination.
Bob Farmer, who was a top fundraiser for several past Democratic presidential candidates, had served on Obama's national finance committee.
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For Obama, the loss of such a big name in political fundraising circles is hardly welcome news at his campaign.
Farmer was the finance chair of the Democratic National Committee during President George H.W. Bush's administration. He was a top fundraiser for Michael Dukakis in 1988, Bill Clinton in 1992 and John Kerry in 2004. Farmer served as Kerry's national treasurer in 2004, but when Kerry decided he would not seek the presidency in 2008, Farmer was one of several Kerry financial backers who chose to help Obama.
Bill Clinton chose Farmer to be his top diplomat in Bermuda, and the Clinton campaign was unhappy when Farmer picked Obama over the former first lady. Nevertheless, campaign officials continued to court him.
Farmer has donated to all the leading Democratic candidates, a practice not uncommon this election cycle. Federal Election Commission records show Farmer gave $2,300 to Obama in March, $2,300 to Edwards in June and $2,300 to Hillary Clinton in July.
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