USA: Is the US presidential race 'rigged'? - by Anthony Zurcher

The United States may be a democracy, but the party presidential nomination process - upon closer inspection - is hardly a shining beacon of democratic light.

For most of US history, party nominees have been decided by political power brokers and deal-makers behind closed doors. Parties operate like private clubs - they make their own rules and are suspicious of outsiders.

Only in recent history has a more open system of primaries and caucuses been grafted onto the process to give the average American a say in who appears on the general election ballot.

In a close, contentious primary season, however, the veneer of accountability can rub off, exposing the sometimes unsightly gears that still power the US political system.

This has prompted objection from the supporters of two candidates in particular - Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders - who feel that the party establishments are arrayed against their presidential quests.

But are their concerns valid? Read on by clicking on the link below.

Read more: Is the US presidential race 'rigged'? - BBC News

US Presdidential Election: Campaign Contributions From Banks In Libor Probe Lift Mitt Romney, Barack Obama

Six of the banks under investigation -- JPMorgan, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, UBS, Bank of America and Barclays -- rank among Romney's top 20 donors. Through the end of May, employees of those companies and their family members have contributed more than $2 million to the Romney campaign, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Mitt Romney is the top recipient of the financial sector cash, pulling in more than twice the contributions that have gone to President Barack Obama as of May. Incumbent members of Congress have received nearly one-third of the financial sector's donations so far.

None of the banks under investigation currently rank as top donors to Obama, although JPMorgan, Citigroup and UBS all ranked among Obama's top donors in 2008. Employees of the six banks that are top Romney donors have given $420,553 to the Obama campaign so far.

In addition, eight Obama bundlers hail from banks under investigation for their role in the rigging of the Libor rate. Executives from Barclays, Citigroup, Royal Bank of Scotland and UBS have raised at least $2 million for the reelection campaign.

The Obama team has already had to renounce one financial sector bundler this year after the investment fund of former New Jersey governor and senator Jon Corzine imploded and was found to have lost or misused investors' money. The campaign and the Democratic National Committee returned $70,000 in contributions from Corzine and his family, but declined to return more than $500,000 he had raised for the campaign from others.

Read more: Campaign Contributions From Banks In Libor Probe Lift Mitt Romney, Barack Obama

Police raid Sarkozy’s office, home in campaign finance probe

Nicolas Sarkozy

French police searched Nicolas Sarkozy’s offices and home Tuesday as part of their probe into claims the former president was involved in illegal political campaign financing, his lawyer said.

Magistrates are investigating claims that staff for Liliane Bettencourt, heiress to the L’Oreal cosmetics empire and France’s richest woman, gave envelopes stuffed with cash to Mr. Sarkozy's aides to finance his 2007 campaign.

Around ten police officers accompanied investigating magistrate Jean-Michel Gentil on the raid on his home and on offices he has recently rented in Paris, a source close to the enquiry said.
Mr. Sarkozy’s lawyer Thierry Herzog said that the president, who was defeated in his re-election bid in May by the Socialist Francois Hollande, is currently in Canada with his family.

Read more: Police raid Sarkozy’s office, home in campaign finance probe - The Globe and Mail