Weisbach and his wife, Ruth, hosted another DNC soft money fundraiser last September, which was attended by Vice President Al Gore, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The largest contribution from an individual was given by John W. Childs , president of JW Childs Associates, a Boston investment and leveraged buyout firm. His holdings include a stake in the Edison Project, a for-profit operator of public and charter schools, according to The Boston Globe. Trial law firms' soft money donations included the three largest donations to the DCCC during the three month period. Three days earlier, they announced plans to buy Ameritech Corp, another telecommunications giant and soft money donor.
Hard money means contributions that are legal under federal law for federal elections.
Soft money means contributions made outside the limits and prohibitions of federal law, including large individual or PAC contributions and direct corporate or union contributions. Totals do not include transfers between party committees, bank loans or interest, offsets to operating expenditures or other business-related receipts.