Special interests abound despite Obama's call for change

DENVER - Barack Obama says he'll shun special interests and their gobs of cash. But make no mistake, those interests are here spreading their dough thick for conventioneers.

Delegates, dignitaries, even the media are greeted with an AT&T goody bag, courtesy of the telecom giant that's a key sponsor of this convention. The litany of industries represented here cover everything from railroads to erectile dysfunction. There's Pepsi and Coke, Molson Coors and Anheuser-Busch, Union Pacific, SEIU and other labor unions, Pfizer, Abbott, AARP, Motorola and Ford, to name just a few.

It's their money - Denver's fundraising target was $40 million - that makes this convention and the Republican one next week in Minnesota possible. The local mayor has sworn off using taxpayer cash to subsidize the event.

For corporate America, these quadrennial political celebrations are a rare occasion.

Corporations are banned from giving directly to candidates and political parties. But there's no limit on how much they can spend on conventions and lavish social parties throughout the week that will just happen to attract big shot politicos from across the country.

The Denver host committee's Web site beckons sponsors with this message:

"As a corporate sponsor, you will be invited to exclusive forums and special events where you will interact with our local and national government as well as business leaders from around the country."

Seems like typical, political high-priced access peddling, although those involved claim otherwise.

"AT&T's role as a good corporate citizen is to showcase the elective process in the best possible light. The presidential conventions give AT&T a unique opportunity to present and display the many leading-edge technologies and products that we offer to tens of thousands of consumers," said spokesman Andrew Ross. "That's why we contribute and participate."

Government watchdogs are skeptical.

"Do I buy it? There's no doubt in my mind and there's no doubt in the minds of these corporations that this is good marketing. It shows an interest and an investment in the process," said Cindi Canary, director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

"Particularly in this economy," she said. "You don't do huge outlays of cash if you're not looking to establish relationships."