With $32.8 million in campaign contributions last quarter, Barack Obama, the Illinois senator and Democratic presidential candidate, easily surpassed his rivals in both parties. And it seems Wall Street money had something to do with it.

Employees of three big investment banks and one major hedge fund were among the leading sources of cash for Mr. Obama, according to data filed Sunday with the Federal Elections Commission. His contributors during the three-month period ended June 30 included Richard S. Fuld Jr., the chief executive of Lehman Brothers, and Kenneth C. Griffin, president of the Citadel Investment Group.

Citadel, a hedge-fund firm based in Chicago, was a wellspring of cash for Mr. Obama. In addition to the $4,600 he collected from Mr. Griffin — the maximum donation allowed from an individual — other Citadel employees donated a combined $147,550 to Mr. Obama’s campaign, according to the Associated Press.

Bulge-bracket investment banks also gave Mr. Obama a lift. Employees of Lehman contributed $160,760 to his presidential run (which includes $2,300 from Mr. Fuld), Goldman Sachs employees gave $103,550 and employees of J.P. Morgan Chase gave $101,950, records show.

Compare that with Mr. Obama’s Democratic rival, Senator Hillary Clinton of New York, who raised $27 million in the quarter. She also got donations from employees of investment banks, but not nearly as much as Mr. Obama. She received $47,850 from employees of Morgan Stanley and $44,150 from Merrill Lynch employees, for example.

Ms. Clinton has some powerful Wall Street backers, though. Morgan Stanley’s chief executive, John Mack, who helped President Bush raise funds for his 2004 campaign, has declared his support for Ms. Clinton in 2008. The Financial Times reported that Ms. Clinton is expected Monday at Morgan Stanley’s New York headquarters for a fund raising event.

Go to Article from The Associated Press »

Go to Article from Bloomberg News »

Go to Article from The New York Times »