'08 Hopefuls Net Millions From Piggy Banks

WASHINGTON -- At 8 years old, Matthew Mardirossian is too young to vote. But he and his 7-year-old sister, Karis, each contributed $4,600 to help Democrat Barack Obama win the White House.

In Arizona, 15-year-old actor Hunter Gomez gave $2,300 to Republican John McCain, his home state senator.

Under federal rules, minors can make political donations — as long as it's their money and decision to contribute.

Massie Ritsch, spokesman for the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics, said it's a way people "use their family members to circumvent the limits on individual contributions," which is $2,300 each for the primary and general elections.

"Chances are slim that a 6- or 7-year-old would knowingly give their money to a candidate. They would prefer to spend their money on G.I. Joes or Barbie dolls," said Paul Ryan of the Campaign Legal Center.

Aris Mardirossian said his children's donations came from their trust fund, controlled by lawyers and accountants. "It is their money, and the trustee makes the decisions on their behalf," he said.

Mardirossian and his wife gave $4,600 apiece to Obama. The real estate developer estimates his extended family has donated about $50,000 to the Illinois senator.

Spokesman Bill Burton said Obama returned the money from the Mardirossian children Monday — the same day USA TODAY asked about the donations.

Obama doesn't accept money from anyone younger than 16, Burton said, and the donations were refunded "once we ascertained that they fell outside of the parameters for donations that we accept."

Gomez, who had a part in the film National Treasure, said he used his own money: "Sen. McCain is a really good man."

McCain spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker said the campaign sticks to federal rules. "We have no way of vetting specific contributions unless (a donor's) age is brought to our attention," she said.

A 2002 campaign-finance law rewrite, co-authored by McCain, banned donations from minors. The Supreme Court struck down that provision.