Lobbyist Hodges backing Obama

COLUMBIA --- A former South Carolina governor who now runs a lobbying and consulting firm threw his support behind Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama on Wednesday, despite the Illinois senator's constant criticism of lobbyists.

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Jim Hodges: Former South Carolina governor now runs a lobbying and consulting business, but says he has only one federal client.

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Associated Press

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., shakes hands before speaking during a stop in Coralville, Iowa. Mr. Obama has been critical of lobbyists and says they won't be welcome in his administration.

Former Gov. Jim Hodges, who served one term before losing re-election to a Republican, brushed aside the apparent inconsistency, saying he had just one federal lobbying client.

"It deals with federal home loan banks, so it's not exactly one of those that's been controversial," Mr. Hodges told The Associated Press after making his endorsement. "It's a program to try to get more liquidity to community banks."

The Center for Responsive Politics shows Hodges Consulting Group is registered to lobby for Hillenbrand Partners, a Chicago-based company that does business with the Federal Home Loan Bank in Atlanta.

Mr. Hodges' lobbying partners include Billy Boan, a Republican and his former chief of staff. Mr. Boan's clients include the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association.

Mr. Obama has sworn off taking donations from Washington lobbyists and political action committees, while assailing rival Hillary Rodham Clinton for not doing the same. He also has pledged they won't be welcome in his administration.

Mr. Obama hasn't always been so adamant about lobbyists and their money.

About 40 percent of the money he raised as a state senator came from PACs, corporations and unions, including organizations with a financial stake in legislation he was sponsoring.

Mr. Obama has tried to reduce the influence of lobbyists during his political career, campaign manager David Plouffe said.

"Obviously we have restrictions on contributions from federally registered lobbyists. We do have folks who might be involved at the state level who are supporting us," Mr. Plouffe said. "There's no prohibition on people who are federally registered lobbyists supporting us, they just can't -- you know, from a voting perspective or an advice perspective -- they can't contribute to us."

Mr. Hodges said he spent months observing and talking with candidates. He decided to wait to make an endorsement until the candidates had been through most of the campaign season.

South Carolina Democrats vote Jan. 26.

"You learn a lot about someone as a person, and you learn about him as a candidate, what kind of general election candidate they'll be from how they react to adversity in campaigns," Mr. Hodges said.