And in recent weeks, Mr. McGreevey's image as a possible reformer has been further marred by a corruption scandal involving two men who were key fund-raisers.

The case of Mr. Suresh, a key fund-raiser, is being appealed before Canada's Supreme Court.

Politically, Johnson is a key Republican fund-raiser.

He said he was told several times over the phone by a key fund-raiser for the "Star Wars" advertisements, Jane E. McLaughlin, that the money was to be used for campaigns.

His Goldman office was peppered with pictures of Democratic politicians, and he was a key fund-raiser for Walter F. Mondale and Michael S. Dukakis.

In March 2001, I accompanied one of the key fund-raisers for the Kosovo Liberation Army to a gun show in suburban Pennsylvania.

Then the Republican, sitting back in a leather chair at his brother-in-law's office here, soft drink in hand, got to the point, taking on the role that most candidates have to assume as their campaign's key fund-raiser.

His Economic Development Commissioner, Charles Gargano, is doing double duty as a key political fund-raiser.

But he has promoted legislation that benefited key fund-raisers and friends.

Mr. Barton is a political liberal whose wife, Laura, is a key fund-raiser for President Clinton.