Special interests swarm DNC agendas

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By Jim McElhatton

DENVER | From a $5,000 "kick-off the convention" golf outing to VIP credentials being handed out for $1 million "Presidential Sponsors," corporate and special interest money is flowing into Denver this week right along with the politicians.

The events range from luncheons for delegates hosted by AT&T to private suites at Invesco Field for big donors to the Denver committee that's hosting the convention. The convention also is seen as a big fundraising opportunity for Sen. Barack Obama, the first major candidate to opt out of public financing for the general election. Aides declined to discuss the campaign's fundraising strategy this week.

Events taking place this week include a welcoming party hosted by prominent lobbying firm Brownstein, Farber Hyatt, Schreck LLP at the Denver Art Museum, which has been one of the firm's lobbying client. AT&T is sponsoring a reception at a nearby banquet hall for the Blue Dog Democratic Leadership Council. And there's also a golf outing on behalf of Rep. Joe Baca of California in nearby Commerce City, Colo.

Federal law limits corporate donations to political parties, but the rules don't apply to corporate donations to the nonprofit committees hosting the parties' conventions. Ethics experts said the Denver money events afford well-heeled special interests an opportunity to mingle privately with political leaders.

"These events are created as a way for high level politicians to rub shoulders with lobbyists and others with an interest in what happens once they are elected," said Nancy Watzman, director of the Sunlight Foundation's "Party Time" project, which tracks political spending at the conventions.

According to the nonprofit Campaign Finance Institute, corporate donors who pay more than $1 million to the Denver host committee get invitations to private events with members of Congress and members of the Denver 2008 convention committee, VIP access and credentials for convention sessions and invitations to other events.

Between the two conventions combined, private money totaling more than $112 million will pay for conventions costs, much of it from corporations and trade unions lobbying Congress, according to the group.

Chris Lopez, a spokesman for the 2008 Denver Host Committee, said the committee operates as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization responsible for supporting the convention by providing hospitality and volunteer support.

"Certainly, we have been operating under all the laws and bylaws," he said.

Mr. Lopez said the committee has raised the $40.6 million it was supposed to raise for the event.