Thousands of lobbyists, corporate sponsors and wealthy donors have descended on the Democratic convention where their deep pockets are once again securing them privileged access, the best seats . . . and maybe a few favours from Congress or a Barack Obama administration.

Rental companies complain that they are running out of limousines to ferry the political elite and their high-rolling friends around Denver, where they can feed on gourmet dinners, down cocktails at more than 1,200 parties and amuse themselves at a celebrity poker game (the chips are free).

This convention was supposed to be different. Mr Obama solemnly announced that neither his campaign nor his party would accept money from lobbyists who, he said, seek to “drown out the voices of the American people”. New ethics rules, driven by the Democrats through Congress, were designed to ban legislators from accepting gifts, meals, trips or tickets from lobbyists and corporations. But the loopholes are so big that, well, you could stage a convention in them. If campaign donations are limited by law to a maximum of $2,300 (£1,230) there is no such restriction on sponsoring the convention, and the Democratic Party is deciding to hold its nose and take the lobbyists’ money.

The convention’s host committee, needing to raise $40 million for the week, sent out a letter to potential corporate benefactors saying that they had a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” in Denver to reach “232 members of Congress, 51 senators, 28 governors and others” – presumably including Mr Obama’s team. “As a corporate sponsor for the Democratic National Convention, your organisation will have the opportunity to be part of something bigger, something that will have a lasting impact on Colorado, the United States and the world,” it said.

Xcel Energy, Pfizer and Molson Coors, each of which have given more than $1 million, will be among the donors with their own private executive boxes at the Invesco Field Stadium, the 75,000-seat home to the Denver Broncos, on Thursday when Mr Obama makes his big speech. So will Ben Barnes, a Texas lobbyist, who said: “It’s bigger than the Super Bowl.”

Qwest Communications has given $6 million to the convention committee. The help it is receiving from Diana DeGette, the Colorado Congresswoman, with its case pending at the Federal Communications Commission is, apparently, entirely unrelated.

Stephen Weisman, of the Campaign Finance Institute, is among those with a bad taste in his mouth, saying that the people soliciting donations have the capacity to “affect federal policy”.

The restrictions on wining and dining legislators do not apply to charitable fundraisers. So the gambling industry – in the form of the Poker Players Alliance – is putting on a tournament where members of Congress will be given $5,000-worth of chips to play cards with celebrities such as Ben Affleck. And, oh yes, proceeds will go to Paralysed Veterans of America.

Last night the Distilled Spirits Council was hosting yet another party – for which The Timeswas among corporate sponsors – where guests received gift bags with premium cigars.

Mr Obama’s biggest fundraisers have special lounges at the Pepsi Centre, where the convention is being held. Some will get backstage passes. In the evenings they and the lobbyists return to the Ritz-Carlton hotel, where Frette linens have a strict 400 thread count and each room has a cappuccino-maker. Cocktails include “Obama Granite” – pomegranate and Cointreau – and “Biden My Time”. Each night little homilies from Mr Obama’s speeches are left on guests’ pillows – printed, of course, on “eco-friendly paper”.

On the agenda

Today

Hillary Clinton speaks at an event intended to bring unity to the Democratic Party and pay tribute to the all-important women voters

Tomorrow

Bill Clinton vies with vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden for the spotlight

Thursday

Barack Obama accepts the nomination of the Democratic Party in front of an audience of 75,000

Friday

Democrats head home and John McCain, right, is expected to announce his running-mate before the Republican Convention in St Paul next week

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