SPRINGFIELD, Ill., July 7 (UPI) -- Likely Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Barack Obama was friendly with lobbyists in Illinois, but also voted against them, USA Today reported Monday.
During his career as a state legislator and in his 2004 U.S. Senate run, Obama didn't bar lobbyists from contributing to his campaign as he does now and was personal friends with some. But interviews with Illinois sources and an examination of his voting record by the newspaper showed Obama often voted against the lobbyists' interests, USA Today said.