To the editor:

It is ironic that President Bush has decided to challenge the special interest fund raising of Sen. John Kerry, since he himself is taking in record amounts of contributions from corporate and special interests.

According to Public Citizen, a nonprofit watchdog group, the Bush-Cheney campaign’s elite fund-raisers, including at least 53 federal registered lobbyists, have brought in more than $142 million so far, for a primary in which President Bush is running unopposed.

The president has accepted at least $6.5 million in funds bundled by Washington influence-peddlers last year alone, 10 times what Sen. Kerry has accepted from lobbyists over 15 years.

Twelve federally registered lobbyists are Bush campaign Rangers (elites who have bundled at least $200,000).

Forty-one federally registered lobbyists are Bush campaign Pioneers (elites who have bundled at least $100,000).

The only way to eliminate special interest influence in the White House is to reform the presidential funding system and move toward clean money elections.

James Hasselle,

Lawrence