Obama declares more Rezko cash

CHICAGO -- Presidential candidate Barack Obama said Friday that he got more political money from indicted fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko than he has previously acknowledged.

Rezko helped raise up to $250,000 dollars for his various political races, Obama's campaign said. The campaign had previously put the figure at $150,000 but now says that amount was only for his 2004 Senate race.

And in interviews with two Chicago newspapers, the Democrat again said it was a mistake to involve Rezko in his purchase of a new home. But Obama said he got no special breaks because of Rezko and did nothing unethical.

"He never once asked me for any favors, or ever did any favors for me," Obama said in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times. "He never gave me any gifts or gave me any indication he was setting me up to ask for any favors in the future."

Obama met Friday with the editorial boards of the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times in an effort to resolve nagging questions about his relationship with Rezko, a Chicago businessman and major fundraiser in Illinois politics.

Rezko is on trial for mail fraud, attempted extortion and other charges. Federal prosecutors say he tried to use his connections to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to demand kickbacks from companies wanting to do business with state government.

Obama, an Illinois senator, is not accused of any wrongdoing.

But his long friendship with Rezko has hampered his efforts to campaign as a new-style politician who abhors backroom deals and insider favors.

Rezko has not contributed to Obama's presidential campaign, but he did raise money for Obama's bids for other offices.

His staff said Friday evening that Rezko raised about $160,000 for Obama's successful run for U.S. Senate in 2004 and between $60,000 and $90,000 for his state Senate campaigns and a failed bid for Congress in 2000.