Follow the Money: "More Rezko dough found"

In two exclusive interviews Friday, March 14, 2008, with Chicago reporters, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) admitted that indicted political fixer Antoin "Tony" Rezko had raised more money for his campaigns than previously reported.

Obama told the Chicago Tribune's David Jackson that, in 1995, when he first ran for the Illinois Senate, Rezko was his "first substantial contributor. Obama said it was his 'best guesstimate' that Rezko raised $10,000 to $15,000 of Obama's roughly $100,000 collected for that race. Obama said he didn't have more certainty because he didn't then have the staff to maintain better campaign finance records."

Fact Check: The Illinois State Board of Elections reports that the Friends of Obama campaign committee was created August 7, 1995, and filed organization papers September 5, 1995. Between July 1 and December 31, 1995, total reported receipts came to $50,890.00. Additional reports for Friends of Obama (1995-2004) can be accessed here.

Rezko also "helped bankroll all of Obama's subsequent campaigns except his presidential bid. Rezko was on Obama's campaign committee in his failed run against U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush and gathered between $50,000 and $75,000 of the estimated $600,000 raised in that race, Obama said."

Additionally, Rezko served on "the finance committee for Obama's 2004 U.S. Senate run." Obama's "best assessment" was Rezko raised $160,000 during his Senate primary, but added "those funds had been given to charity."

The Chicago Sun-Times wrote March 15, 2008, that Obama's "estimate" of funds raised by Rezko "during Obama's 12 years in politics" "exceeded his campaign staff's previous estimates," which, in November 2006 was an estimated $50,000 to $60,000. "In the last year, Obama's campaign fund has given charities more than $157,600 in donations it linked to Rezko, his family, friends and business associates."

The Chicago Sun-Times published a breakdown that Obama provided about Rezko's fund-raising:

About $160,000 for Obama's 2004 U.S. Senate election. Obama has given that money to charity.

From $50,000 to $60,000 for Obama's failed attempt to unseat U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush in 2000.

Between $10,000 and $15,000 for Obama's first election, in 1996, to the Illinois Senate.

"Somewhat less than that" for Obama's re-elections to the Illinois Senate in 1998 and 2002.

MAJOR RezkoWatcher Question: To whom, what charities exactly, did Obama donate all the money?

Audio and transcript links

The Chicago Tribune provided audio links to its interview with Obama, which are posted with the article here.

The Chicago Tribune provided an edited transcript of its interview with Obama here and extended excerpts are published here.

A little over-the-top, perhaps, but thought provoking