June 7 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama emphasizes in a new appeal for donations that ``our movement is changing the way campaigns are funded.'' Not that much, it seems.

Data from the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington research group, show that in the first three months of 2007, the Illinois senator drew from many of the same contributors as other White House hopefuls: employees of law firms; investment bankers; Hollywood celebrities.

While Obama doesn't accept money from registered federal lobbyists, five of his 10 biggest sources of funds are groups of employees at law firms that lobby in Washington. He also received $54,650 from 40 people registered to lobby the Illinois state government, according to the Illinois secretary of state's office and the Federal Election Commission.

``His profile of donors isn't that much different from other candidates,'' said Democratic consultant Peter Fenn, who isn't aligned with any presidential candidate. ``If you're the agent of change and you're doing stuff in a similar vein as everybody else, you're vulnerable to the glass-houses argument.''

Employees at the U.S. subsidiary of Zurich-based UBS AG, Europe's largest bank by assets, contributed $162,200 to Obama in the first quarter, more than he received from any other group. Robert Wolf, chief executive officer of UBS Americas Inc., is an Obama fund raiser and hosted two events at company headquarters in New York City.

Giuliani Donors

UBS employees are also among the biggest sources of campaign funds for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, 63, a leading Republican presidential contender.

Employees of New York-based Goldman Sachs Group Inc., the world's largest securities firm by assets, are among his largest groups of donors; they are also among the biggest backers of his top Democratic rivals, New York Senator Hillary Clinton, 59, and former North Carolina Senator John Edwards, 53. Republican candidate Mitt Romney, 60, lists Goldman Sachs employees as his biggest source of contributions.

UBS spokesman Doug Morris and Goldman Sachs spokesman Peter Rose said all donations are individual decisions.

The maximum that any individual can give to a presidential candidate during the primary election campaign is $2,300. Each can give another $2,300 for the general election.

Setting Him Apart

Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the candidate relies heavily on grassroots donors. His refusal to take money from registered federal lobbyists or political action committees sets him apart, she said.

It's ``not only different from the policy of several other candidates in the race, but it is also clear evidence of his own refusal to allow any group or outside party to influence his decision-making,'' she said.

Obama, 45, received donations from 104,000 people, including $6.9 million contributed online, in the first quarter of the year. Twenty-two percent of the $25.8 million he raised in the three months came in amounts of $200 or less, according a Center for Responsive Politics calculation based on FEC figures.

Clinton, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, raised 8 percent of her $26.1 million in amounts of $200 or less. She reported 60,000 donors and raised $4.2 million online. She took in $234,550 from registered lobbyists, more than any other presidential candidate.

Spielberg's Double Duty

Obama and Clinton list lawyers and securities-industry employees as their top two sources of campaign cash, and each has received more from entertainment industry figures than any other candidate. Director Steven Spielberg co-hosted fund raisers for both of them.

``The idea that you can raise the money needed to run for president and not go to the well-worn-out trough is ludicrous,'' said Democratic consultant Glenn Totten, who is neutral in the presidential race. ``How do you differentiate between lobbyists and firms that lobby?'' he asked, terming it ``a distinction without a difference.''

Among Obama's top donors were employees of the Chicago-based law firm of Sidley Austin LLP, who gave $105,750 in the first quarter. The firm was paid $4.5 million last year to represent such clients as Purchase, New York-based Mastercard Inc. and the Kenilworth, New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company Schering- Plough Corp.

Exelon Employees

Employees of Chicago-based Exelon Corp., the largest U.S. utility owner by market value, were Obama's second-biggest source of campaign donations, right behind UBS, contributing $159,800. Exelon has more than 3.7 million customers in Illinois.

``Senator Obama has all the necessary leadership skills required to be president,'' said Frank M. Clark, chairman of Exelon's Commonwealth Edison utility, in an e-mailed statement. He said Obama is part of a ``formidable field of candidates.''

Obama introduced legislation last year to require operators of nuclear power plants, such as Exelon, to tell state and local officials about any leaks of radioactive substances. Current law requires notification only if there is a health or safety emergency. In introducing the measure, Obama cited Exelon's failure to tell officials about the leak of radioactive tritium into nearby groundwater.

Obama, a member of the Senate Health Committee, received $4,600 from Jay Grinney, president of Birmingham, Alabama-based HealthSouth Corp., which last year reached an agreement with the federal government to end the threat of prosecution over a $2.7 billion accounting fraud.

He also received $4,600 from former Federal Communications Commission Chairman William Kennard, a managing director of the Washington-based Carlyle Group, a private equity fund that invests in health-care companies. Kennard is an Obama fund raiser.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jonathan D. Salant in Washington at jsalant@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: June 7, 2007 12:16 EDT