Who's Really Backing Barack Obama?
If it seems that you're seeing a lot more of Sen. Barack Obama on TV, there's a good reason. He's raised a lot more money than Sen. John McCain - and since clinching the nomination in June, he's outspent McCain better than two-to-one. So, where did Obama get that kind of cash? CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson Follows the Money.
Early on, both Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain promised to limit their fundraising - but Obama reversed that pledge when he won his party's nomination.
Now he ranks as the greatest political fundraiser of all time: More than $603 million, compared to $358 million for McCain.
Obama's broken another record: he's gotten more money than anyone in history from unidentified donors - with names like "Doodad," who lists his employer as "Loving" and has given more than $17,000 dollars - way over federal limits.
Obama has said: "Ninety percent of our contributions are from small donors."
And lots of Obama donors don't have to be disclosed at all under federal law because they gave less than $200.
McCain's posted his small donor list online - an imperfect list that has some cities listed as "anonymous." But Obama hasn't given any details at all about whom his small donors are, drawing extra criticism after he raised a record-shattering $150 million last month alone.
"The fact that the Obama camp has not provided more information about who these small donors are really run counter to his 'transparency' message," said Sheila Krumholz of the Center for Responsive Politics.
And you might be surprised to hear who else besides those unnamed small donors is on the Obama team. Like McCain, Obama's corporate donor list looks like a Who's Who of the Wall Street collapse - except some have given more to Obama. Lots more.
"The Obama campaign has just vacuumed up the money in this cycle, specifically from Goldman Sachs, Obama has received over $740,000, as opposed to McCain's $220,000," Krumholz said.
Not to mention that the former head of Goldman Sachs, Robert Rubin, is Obama's chief economic advisor - and two current executives are bundling for him (David Heller and Bruce Heyman). "Bundlers" are mega-fundraisers who, critics say, get special access.
Another big Obama bundler is Citicorp's Michael Froman. Obama's even tapped him to help put together his new administration.
Obama has tripled McCain's haul from Lehman Brothers interests.
Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan Chase? More, more and lots more to Obama.
An Obama spokesman told us they've followed all federal rules, and gone above and beyond transparency requirements.
See how the numbers match up and learn more about Obama and McCain's donors at Couric & Co.
The election is still undecided, but the money race... it's not even close.
