Meet the bundlers. They are usually wealthy campaign supporters, with social or business connections to other wealthy friends, who actively solicit donations and deliver the funds to their candidate of choice.
We already know President Obama’s 357 elites who are directing at least $55,900,000 to his re-election efforts. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, this list includes donors such as Dreamworks’ Jeffrey Katzenberg, Entertainment mogul Harvey Weinstein, Sally Susman of Pfizer Inc. and even disgraced Jon Corzine of the now bankrupt MF Global.
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Current law only requires candidates to disclose bundlers who are registered federal lobbyists, but Obama continues the tradition of his last campaign by releasing a comprehensive list.
Mitt Romney, however, has only disclosed eight lobbyist bundlers, as required by law.
As shown in the graphic above, John McCain disclosed the names of 536 bundlers for his 2008 presidential campaign. With Romney’s many friends in high places, its likely that he will amass a similar amount.
Who are Mitt Romney’s bundlers?
Members of the media will demand transparency in this matter. Already, the Washington Post has challenged Romney on the issue in an editorial, and NBC’s Michael Isikoff has obtained invitations from some of Romney’s fundraisers, revealing names from donors from private equity firms.
As he draws closer to the general election, Romney’s political opponents will use his lack of transparency as a political weapon. As Romney found out in the scrutiny over his tax returns, these kinds of attacks can damage any campaign.
