It turns out that it’s no easy thing to stock a new presidential administration with policy experts who have never worked as lobbyists - especially when the Democratic party has been out of power for eight years.

Away from the glare of the campaign, leaders of two distinct Democratic networks are sifting names and vetting resumes for a prospective Barack Obama presidency.

Two California groups, Vote Hope and PowerPac.org, are drawing national attention, and boisterous complaints from opponents, for their support of Barack Obama’s run for the presidency.

Both are operating outside the Obama campaign as 527 organizations, taking advantage of tax-code provisions that exempt them from federal spending limits. And both were founded by Steve Phillips, former president of the San Francisco School Board and son-in-law of billionaire banker Herb Sandler.