March 30, 2007
New York's African American Bundlers
Along with African-American voters in the polls, Sen. Barack Obama is picking up support among black bundlers in important New York money circles. The Clinton and Obama presidential campaigns released partial lists of their African-American bundlers yesterday. While both campaigns flashed some big names, Mr. Obama's list is decidedly longer and richer in Wall Street types.
Business leaders topping Mr. Obama's list include Earl Graves, publisher of Black Enterprise magazine; Ann Fudge, who recently stepped down as chief executive of Young & Rubicam Brands; investment banker Ray McGuire with Citigroup; asset manager Tracy Maitland; John Rhea, a managing director at Lehman Bros.; Brian Mathis of the Provident Group; and Ron Blaylock of GenNx360 Capital Partners.
Record company executives L.A. Reid and Andre Harrell are supporting Mr. Obama, along with entertainment lawyer Jeh Johnson and hip-hop voter registration organizer Alexis McGill. Robert Smith, who is active in DL21C, and cultural community leader Gordon Davis give the Obama campaign access to those worlds.
Sen. Hillary Clinton has corralled experienced fund-raisers Clarence and Jackie Avant, Binta Niambi Brown and Shahara Ahmad-Llewellyn. Along with Mr. Avant, iconic black entertainment elites Quincy Jones, Bob Johnson and Berry Gordy Jr. are raising money for Mrs. Clinton.
From the political world are Carl McCall, one-time candidate for governor of New York, and Tyson Pratcher, a former deputy state director for Mrs. Clinton who ran unsuccessfully to replace Harold Ford in Congress. Pam Pickens, president of Black Diamonds Entertainment, organizes networking and social events for young black professionals that have drawn 10,000 people.
"There are no lightweights on either list," says Suri Kasirer, owner of a leading lobbying and fund-raising firm in New York City. How much each group can raise will become clearer as campaign finance reports are filed next month.
The Obama campaign released this list of New Yorkers, noting that it is not all-inclusive: Brian Mathis, Jeh Johnson, L.A. Reid, Frank Cooper, Andre Harrell, Derek Johnson, Ray McGuire, Tracy Maitland, Judy Byrd Blaylock, Ron Blaylock, Earl Graves, Ann Fudge, Robert Smith, Vivienne LaBorde, Vaughn Willaims, Gayle Atkins, Charles Atkins, Gordon Davis, John Rhea, Wendy Credle, Alexis McGill, Rhonda Medina, Maxim Thorne, Jason Wright, Marc Mitchell.
The Clinton campaign sent this list: Clarence and Jackie Avant, Dana Wade Smith, Shahara Ahmad-Llewellyn, Binta Niambi Brown, Pamela Hayes, Tyson Pratcher, Carl McCall, Bob Johnson, Quincy Jones, Berry Gordy Jr. and Pam Pickens. [ANNE MICHAUD]
Anne Michaud is the editor of the Crain's Insider political newsletter based in New York City.
Posted at 12:40 PM
Comments
Democracy for sale in America. Isnt it ironic that the person with the most money is considered the front runner in a democratic country. What an irony!!!
Akanimo Uwan | 04.08.07 06:49 AM
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