Back to Main | NextIf Tom Steyer, founder of $18.4 billion San Francisco hedge fund Farallon Capital Management, wants to discuss an issue with the president, he can pick up the phone. After all, Steyer, 55, was one of the most notable financial executives to raise money for Barack Obama’s reelection. However, having the ear of the president isn’t enough for Steyer, who retired from Farallon at the end of 2012 to pursue environmental activism — he wants Obama’s Twitter army. Steyer opposes the planned Keystone XL pipeline, which is intended to carry crude from the Canadian oil sands to the U.S. In June, Steyer announced an online campaign, dubbed “We Love Our Land,” to mobilize the online supporters who were so vital to Obama’s political success and urge them to tell the White House to block the development. “President Obama is very smart,” said Steyer, who feels confident Obama “will turn down the Keystone pipeline.” The president just needs a little help from his online friends.
