Blair Hull
 Blair Hull      (businessman, financier, politician) | |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 September 1942 |
| Nationality | US |
| Alma mater | University of California (Santa Barbara), Santa Clara University |
| Party | Democratic |
American multimillionaire and Democratic politician who was targeted by the the Chicago Tribune when coming up against Barack Obama for senator in 2004. | |
Blair Hull is an American businessman, multimillionaire and Democratic politician. He was targeted by the the Chicago Tribune when coming up against Barack Obama for senator in 2004.[1]
Career
Hull founded Hull Trading Company, an algorithmic derivatives trading firm, in 1985 and served as the firm's Chairman and chief executive officer before selling it to Goldman Sachs in 1999 for $531 million.[2]
A longtime political activist and donor, Blair Hull sought the Illinois Democratic Party nomination as candidate for the U.S. Senate in [[2004]. Hull largely self-funded his campaign, spending a record $29 million of his own money on the race. Hull was unique among the candidate field: he was an Army veteran, had been a card-carrying union member, had taught students as a high school math teacher, and was a successful businessman who had built a business and created jobs in Illinois. During the campaign, Hull railed against the corporate special interests and their influence in Washington. He advocated universal healthcare, greater efficiency in government, campaign finance reform, and re-importation of prescription drugs.[3]
His is early start, compelling profile, considerable fortune, and heavy campaign advertising on television ensured that Hull led the crowded Democratic field for much of the primary race. While Hull topped the polls till the final weeks of the campaign, Barack Obama succeeded in winning the election.[4]
