Obama outside groups forming influence network

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama’s allies are building a deep network of influential outside organizations aimed at promoting his agenda and securing his legacy. They’re raising tens of millions of dollars and hiring former White House aides and campaign advisers to run them.
From campaign strategists and Web gurus to policy hands and press agents, Obama loyalists are fanning out, slicing up Obama’s agenda into smaller parts and launching highly targeted efforts on health care, job creation and electoral politics.
The budding network reflects a second, parallel network of influence that can push policies and promote candidates from outside the White House.
But it also has raised serious questions about whether the groups offer donors and corporations undue influence on the Obama administration and access to the president.