Would billionaire Washington businessman Steve Case have good White House entrée if Barack Obama becomes president?
Case and Obama are graduates of the same high school, Punahou in Honolulu, although Case was a few years ahead. Case’s attachment to the school is more than academic: He has given more than $10 million to its building and endowment funds, and Punahou’s middle school is named for Case’s parents.
In interviews, however, Case has made it clear that his generosity wouldn’t extend to supporting his fellow alum’s campaign. Case, a resident of McLean, once identified himself as a Republican, but now says he is an independent. He says he has nothing against Obama, but won't be contributing to any of the candidates on a personal basis.
Despite those GOP leanings, some of the Case family money is finding its way to his fellow Hawaiian. Election records show that Case’s wife, Jean, who lists herself as CEO of the philanthropic Case Foundation, has given $2,000 to the Obama campaign.
This article appears in the June 2008 issue of Washingtonian. To see more articles in this issue, click here.
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