In Heat of Campaign, No Forgiveness for Troublemakers

Nov. 5, 2007 — -- Criminal felons have run for office, been elected and been appointed to top government positions.

But in the thick of a high-stakes campaign, they're persona non grata.

Philip Martin, one of Fred Thompson's closest advisers, learned that lesson the hard way today when he resigned after it was revealed that he had a criminal record for drug dealing. Although the Republican presidential candidate said yesterday that he wouldn't "throw my friend under the bus," Martin stepped down in the wake of the revelation, saying, "I deeply regret any embarrassment this has caused."

The businessman, who was one of Thompson's campaign co-chairmen and provided the candidate with more than $120,000 worth of flights on his private plane, pleaded guilty to the sale of 11 pounds of marijuana in 1979 and was charged in 1983 with multiple counts of felony bookmaking, cocaine trafficking and conspiracy, as reported by ABC News' The Blotter.

Since then, Martin seems to have turned his life around, becoming a successful businessman and real estate developer in Tennessee.

But in the thick of a political campaign, there is no redemption for someone with a criminal record, say political observers and analysts.

"In a high-stakes, high-profile campaign, you just can't have any questions lingering like that," said former campaign consultant Kerwin Swint, the author of "Mudslingers: The Top 25 Negative Political Campaign of All Time."

"We've had quite a few candidates and parties that have had ties to people with legal issues, but if they involve drugs, then that's something serious. ... I can't think of anyone who has had such close ties to a criminal felon in recent elections."

Martin is not the only top fundraiser with a criminal history who's gained access to a candidate in this campaign.

In September, Hillary Clinton returned more than $800,000 raised by one of her top contributors, Norman Hsu, after it was revealed that he was convicted of fraud in 1992 for promoting a Ponzi scheme and later becoming a fugitive.