Romney Spat Highlights Influence of Lobbyists

Former Massachusetts governor and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's confrontation with an Associated Press reporter in Columbia, South Carolina, pushed to the forefront of campaign debate the issue of lobbyist influence on contenders for the White House.

Campaigning in the first southern state to hold its presidential primary, scheduled for Saturday, January 19, Romney railed against lobbyists holding key positions in presidential campaigns in a direct shot at his chief Republican rival, Senator John McCain of Arizona, whose campaign manager is a former registered Washington lobbyist. Traditionally, lobbyists have less than stellar reputations and are regarded by many as having undue influence on elected officials. Lobbying, according to the United States Senate's web site, "...is the practice of trying to persuade legislators to propose, pass, or defeat legislation or to change existing laws." Lobbyists are required to register with the Senate Office of Public Records.

Romney and McCain have been involved in heated races in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Michigan, with McCain taking the Granite State and Romney scoring big with his economic message in America's automobile manufacturing capital. Both finished behind former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee in Iowa, and both are looking for a decisive victory in South Carolina. When Wyoming is added in, Romney leads all Republican presidential candidates in number of delegates won, making him the Republican frontrunner.

The debate over lobbyists has become heated between Romney and McCain, with Romney making derisive remarks about McCain's use of a lobbyist as a campaign manager while surrounding himself with several prominent Washington figures known for their lobbying efforts. Lobbyists frequently contribute significant sums of money to candidates and elected officials to influence their position on issues important to the individuals or firms they represent. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, lobbyists generally split their financial contributions evenly between Democrats and Republicans, helping to secure influence no matter which party is in power.

All of the major presidential contenders seeking the White House in the 2008 election have ties to lobbyists or lobbying groups. These individuals or groups can wield significant power and influence on highly contentious issues, and their money is actively sought by those in power and by those hoping to get elected to executive and legislative positions within the government. According to Roll Call, Hillary Clinton has secured endorsements from 63 lobbyists, Obama, has been endorsed by 18, Romney by 24, and John McCain by 19. As long as lobbyists are around, their role in politics and the amount of influence they are able to wield will be a contentious subject, and not just between McCain and Romney.

Sources: United States Senate, Center for Responsive Politics, Roll Call