Obama Names Top Campaign Bundler To Ambassador Spot

President Barack Obama
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President Obama tonight named another top donor to a plum diplomatic post.

In an evening release with several other nominations, Obama said he would appoint attorney Allan Katz to be ambassador to Portugal. Like all ambassadorships, it is subject to senate confirmation.

Katz, a former City Commissioner from Tallahassee, Florida, pulled together more than $500,000 in donations to the Obama campaign as one of the Democrat’s top “bundlers.”

He generated some headlines during the campaign because he was a federally registered lobbyist in 2006. He did not re-register in 2007, however.

In addition to Katz’s local government credentials, he served as Legislative Director for Rep. David Obey, and Legislative Assistant to Rep. Bill Gunter.

Obama has rewarded several big donors with top spots, a common practice for presidents. A recent tally by the American Foreign Service Association showed more than half of his nominations so far have been political, and not going to career diplomats.

“As we work to strengthen our relationships in the global community and put our nation back on a path to prosperity, I am confident that these individuals will serve our nation well,” Obama said of his nominees tonight.

Here’s the full slate of nominations:

Ian C. Kelly, U.S. Representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, with the rank of Ambassador, Department of State

Allan J. Katz, Ambassador to the Portuguese Republic, Department of State

Bisa Williams, Ambassador to the Republic of Niger, Department of State

Raul H. Yzaguirre, Sr., Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Department of State

Patrick K. Nakamura, Member, Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission

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