Campaigns take cash, seek details later

[Terri]

By SHARON THEIMER and TROY THIBODEAUX
Associated Press
August 20, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Neither Barack Obama nor John McCain has consistently followed the government's instructions for keeping prohibited foreign money out of their presidential campaigns, and some of that banned money has slipped into Obama's campaign.

During interviews with 123 donors in 11 countries, The Associated Press found contributions Obama accepted from at least three foreigners. Just five of the donors checked, three for Obama and two for McCain, said the campaigns asked to see copies of their current U.S. passports -- as instructed by the Federal Election Commission to avoid legal problems.

Obama's campaign said it would refund the money to the foreign donors the AP identified.

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AP tries for equivalency between the campaigns but instead they have highlighted the disparity in illegal contributions to Obama.