Five Vero Beachside residents among big campaign 'bundlers'

Both presidential campaigns this week released lists of their big 'bundlers' -- fundraisers who round-up donations from a number of people thereby helping a candidate far beyond the individual $2,300 contribution limit -- and the bundlers included 5 Vero beachside residents.

On Barack Obama's list, Vero Beach Realtor Clark French (see earlier story) was one of 16 Florida bundlers who have raised more than $100,000 for the Democratic presidential candidate. French was listed in the $100,000 to $200,000 category.

Four Vero beachside residents were on John McCain's list of top Florida bundlers.

At the top of the Republican presidential candidate's barrier island bundlers was Cynthia W. Bardes of Windsor, who is listed in the $100,000 to $250,000 category. Her husband, David A. Bardes, was listed as a $50,000 to $100,000 bundler.

Also in the $50,000 to $100,000 category were Charles E. Long of John's Island and William P. Corry, an investment adviser who lives in Floraton on Vero's south beach.

Nationwide, approximately 500 top McCain bundlers collected more than $75.6 million, or more than half of the Republican candidate's total campaign receipts through June.

Obama, who has made much of his reliance on smaller contributions pledged via the internet, has nevertheless collected more than $50 million from a similar number of bundlers, accounting for approximately one dollar in six of the total he has raised through May.

Obama has yet to release June contribution totals.