DNC will stop taking lobbyist cash

The Democratic National Committee (DNC), which so far has been behind its Republican counterpart in raising funds, announced Thursday that it would stop taking donations from Washington lobbyists.

{mosads}“The DNC and the Obama campaign are unified and working together to elect Barack Obama as the next president of the United States. Our presumptive nominee has pledged not to take donations from Washington lobbyists and from today going forward the DNC makes that pledge as well,” Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean said. “Sen. Obama has promised to change the way things are done in Washington and this step is a sure sign of his commitment. The American people’s priorities will set the agenda in an Obama administration, not the special interests.”

While Sens. Barack Obama (Ill.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) have shattered all fundraising records in their pursuit of the Democratic nomination, the party itself has not benefitted from the windfall.

Campaign records are expected to show that the two campaigns will have raised more than $500 million through the end of May.