Biggest Convention Donors Usually Need Favors

Major donors to the Democratic and GOP conventions this year either have business pending with politicians or have recently received a favorable ruling, the Los Angeles Times reports. From cable companies to a government union to an electric utility, millions of dollars have flowed into party coffers—but both sides deny any attempt to buy votes.

Meanwhile convention committees and Barack Obama have called for finance reform, but both conventions are in mid-size cities with limited donor pools—and cost $60 million apiece. "We ended the role of federal officeholders seeking huge unlimited contributions for the federal electoral process," said one campaign finance advocate. "This is the only place left where it continues."