'Rainmaker' lobbyist aids Biden

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By Jim McElhatton

When Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. started a new political fundraising committee three years ago, he turned to a longtime Washington insider for help - the partner of a lobbying firm co-founded by his son.

William Oldaker, a federal lobbyist whom one watchdog group dubbed "the rainmaker," and his associates have held dual roles as insiders for Mr. Biden's political committees and the lobbying firm co-founded by his son R. Hunter Biden.

Since 2005, Mr. Biden's fundraising committee, Unite Our States, and his political campaigns have raised millions of dollars, including at least $115,000 in donations from employees and clients of Mr. Oldaker and his son's lobbying firm, D.C.-based Oldaker, Biden and Belair.

One Chicago law firm specializing in asbestos lawsuits paid the lobbying firm $220,000, while its employees have given Mr. Biden's campaigns and fundraising committee more than $70,000 in donations, Federal Election Commission records show.

Oldaker, Biden and Belair has increased its lobbying revenues from $500,000 in 2002 to $3.5 million last year, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Since 2005, the firm has received more than $10 million from corporate lobbying clients and political campaigns. Mr. Biden has used Oldaker, Biden and Belair lawyers to provide legal services for his campaigns.

Such entanglements are giving fuel to Republican critics who say Sen. Barack Obama's choice of Mr. Biden as his running mate doesn't square with his frequent criticism of Washington insiders and lobbyists on the campaign trail.

"Biden's ... connections to the special interests that Obama claims to oppose once again proves the freshman senator from Illinois' rhetoric in no way matches his record," said Danny Diaz, spokesman for the Republican National Committee.

Biden spokesman David Wade dismissed the criticism as "Republican spin."

He said Mr. Biden brings "a 35-year record fighting for people when powerful interests have stood in the way of the public interest, whether it's drug companies, oil companies or insurance companies. John McCain has yielded to special interests that have written his campaign platform."

Mr. Wade said his boss has never shown favoritism to anyone, especially his son: "Senator Biden has been as strong a supporter of ethics reform as the Senate has known, and his office follows all ethics laws right down to the letter," he said.