Who's Giving To Barack Obama?
CBS News Investigative Producer Laura Strickler wrote this story for CBSNews.com.
Who's giving to Barack Obama? A boot fitter, a grape grower, a coffee roaster and a phlebotomist. There's even one woman who lists her job simply as "wife."
Obama has raised more money than any other political candidate in American history. His record haul of $150 million last month is remarkable considering that this close to the election most donors have already reached their maximum donation level of $4600 per person per election.
Over 16,300 last minute contributions to the Obama campaign are detailed in his latest Federal Election Commission (FEC) filing.
Aside from unique jobs, there are also more donors that raise questions. The Obama campaign has already returned tens of thousands of dollars to fake donors such as those who listed their names as "Doodad Pro" and "Good Will".
CBS News reported on fake donations from "Dahsudhu Hdusahfd" of "Df", Hawaii and "Uadhshgu Hduadh" from "Dhff", Florida.
In this latest filing there are new questions. There's Juan Perez of Marina del Rey in California whose donations of $4600 were returned by the campaign. Maybe it's because he lists his company as "1234HaHa". The address listed? It's a yacht club in California that tells CBS News Juan Perez is "definitely not a member."
There's Jonathan Gould in New York who gave $2000 and lists his job as a "fighter" who works for "Lover."
And there are 427 donations from donors who list no employer or occupation. Meanwhile the campaign tells the FEC in its filing it is requesting additional information for 724 donations. The filing shows the campaign returned $21,639 in contributions for last month's report.
357 "professors" including Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison gave an average of $324 which outpaced the 102 students who gave an average of $281.
There were 353 donations from those who say they are "unemployed" and 13 who list their job as "mother" or "mom". One notes her employer as "My Kids."
There's also a hidden message for Senator Obama.
Denise Shushan a doctor from Seattle lists her profession as "physician" and adds, "Eat your Wheaties Barack!"
By Laura Stricker