The Cost of Security

Do you think the fact that we have the most formidable female and African-American candidates we've ever seen makes this campaign more vulnerable? Does it draw out more crazy people?
Anytime you step outside the norms, you're going to attract [trouble]. So whether you're the first African-American, you're the first woman or [Connecticut Sen. Joe] Lieberman, the first Jewish person to run for [the White House]--you're a polarizing figure … That attracts a whole other crowd.

What kinds of funds do the candidates get for security? Before the Secret Service protection stepped in, did Obama pay you out of his own pocket?
The campaign pays. That was one of the decision-makers that the Democrats were looking at. You had Senator Clinton who gets the protection for free. You had Senator Obama, who was paying for it. So to keep things on a level playing field, a push was made to have Senator Obama afforded Secret Service protection, as well. But until the Service steps in the campaign has to pay for it.

Do you know how Obama made the push for protection?
I really don't think he made the push. I think the push was made from the Democratic leadership … I know the Secret Service maintained that [it would be] unusual to pick up a candidate so early. But those decisions are made at a much, much higher level than I would be privy to.

Was it just you with Senator Obama or did others protect him, too?
It depended on the venue. It depended on the crowd … Sometimes for very candid, very controlled crowd situations, it was just me. Other times we had more of a security presence.

Can I ask how much you charge?
That's something I can't go into. [The Los Angeles Times has reported that Obama's campaign paid Funk's firm $380,000.]

You're a former agent. I would imagine it's not cheap to get someone with that kind of experience.
It depends. What some people consider as excessive, other people consider as minimal. And when you're talking about security for a person who's aiming to become president, you have to take everything in stride.