RALEIGH, N.C. - Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards, who reiterated his commitment Tuesday to never accept campaign donations from special interest groups, recently returned $3,400 from lobbyists.

Edwards spokeswoman Colleen Murray said the campaign returned some money donated by a registered lobbyist last week, and money from two others was refunded Tuesday after The Associated Press inquired about the donations.

“We take every precaution possible, but sometimes people slip through, and when we find lobbyist money we refund it immediately,” said Edwards spokeswoman Colleen Murray.

Edwards has long eschewed campaign donations from lobbyists and political action committees, a stand dating to his first run at political office - a successful campaign in 1998 for a U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina. Asked about that policy Tuesday during a campaign event in Georgetown, S.C., Edwards firmly declared himself clean of special interest donations.

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