Dish Network co-founder, chairman and CEO Charlie Ergen praised both presumptive presidential nominees, along with Sen. Hillary Clinton - for whom he held a fundraiser for earlier this year.

He said the company remains "bipartisan" and its Democratic National Convention sponsor status is an effort to be a good corporate citizen. Ergen made the remarks following the Douglas County company's annual shareholder meeting.

As for Clinton and her second-place finish:

"Senator Clinton has been a supporter of us in the past," Ergen said, referring to bills regarding consumer rights and pay TV regulation. "We've done fundraisers for John McCain too."

John McCain is on the Senate's Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

Campaign finance records show that Ergen has made financial donations to the McCain campaign and to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee this year.

He, like many others, called the 2008 presidential race, "historic," adding that he is "pretty impressed with all the candidates." Ergen said that he "sort of knows" McCain and Clinton -- as much as a CEO can get to know a politician -- but has yet to meet Barack Obama.

"I'd like to work with the president of United States, whoever it is," he said. "I hear Obama might be more consumer friendly."