New American City has at least one lobbyist donor

We already knew that corporations were giving money to a special nonprofit set up by the convention host committee to get around the Democrats' ban on company cash. Turns out lobbying groups are giving, too.

The host committee has declined to name its donors, and it has yet to do so with the federal government as well. 

But the political action committee for New York City-based lobbying and PR firm Hill & Knowlton Inc. has disclosed giving $18,000 to the so-called New American City fund earlier this year, according to Federal Election Commission records.

It gave the same amount to the Tampa host committee, site of the Republican convention.

In case you forgot, here's a quick primer on the two main pots of money being raised:

$36.6 million: Amount the Charlotte in 2012 host committee has contractually agreed to raise, to give to the Democratic National Campaign Committee to pay for the actual convention. No corporate or lobbying money, for the first time.

$12-15 million: Amount the Charlotte host committee is believed to be raising to pay for events designed to showcase Charlotte, known as the New American City fund. Accepts corporate money.

--Andrew Dunn