BP Enjoys Lobbying Strength, Close Ties to Lawmakers as Federal Investigation Looms http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/05/01

During the 2008 election cycle, individuals and political action committees associated with BP -- a Center for Responsive Politics' "heavy hitter" -- contributed half a million dollars to federal candidates. About 40 percent of these donations went to Democrats. The top recipient of BP-related donations during the 2008 cycle was President Barack Obama himself, who collected $71,000.