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Obama Asks Top Moneyfolks to Help Clinton Retire Her Debt

June 24, 2008 7:34 PM

ABC News has learned that on a conference call with his national finance team this afternoon, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, asked his top contributors to help Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, retire her more than $10 million in outstanding vendor debt. He did not specify an amount.

Clinton's debt has been a major point of contention as the two former rivals attempt to reconcile.

Clinton will appear at an Obama fundraiser Thursday night in Washington, D.C., and the two will campaign together in Unity, NH, on Friday.

- jpt

June 24, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (228)

User Comments

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Wow! Just happened onto this site. Is this really OBama supporters attitudes towards Clinton? Maybe I should rethink moving my support to him.
I imagine many of you are young, but you need to think about this. We, Democrats will not win if we are not together. That means Obama will not be President.
Remember how close the last two elections were?
Well, the USA demographic are not going to change and we better be about bringing the Democrats together. Get your anger out by hitting a bag of laundry in the basement. You need to face it, as much as you are committed to Obama, 18 million people are committed to Hilary. If you are smart, you can use this to get your candidate elected. They have to get something out of this too.
Work with them. They care as much about this country as you do and for maybe longer!

Posted by: cheryl | Jun 27, 2008 4:49:36 AM

The DNC, Pelosi, and the Obama's patronizing and phony
praise of Hillary Clinton are nothing more than insincere steps
to get some of Hillary's 18 million voters to vote for Barrack.
These people are so pitiful. maybe some of Hillary's supporters
will fall for it, but most of us see it as adding insult to injury,
and we are voting for Senator John McCain in November.

Posted by: Gina | Jun 27, 2008 3:13:23 AM

Yes Gillis we can sure bail Hillary out and at the same time block flip flopping, arrogant Obama from setting foot in the White House by not voting for him. its that simple.

Posted by: NoToObama | Jun 26, 2008 2:06:23 PM

its funny hearing the obama lemmings still railing against Senator Clinton, especially for the audacity to stay in the race as long as she did......keep feeding the fires (Dems for McCain, Write-In Senator Clinton, Vote for Anyone But obama, etc.).....

Posted by: chris | Jun 26, 2008 2:34:06 AM

McCain is 12 points behind Obama in the most recent poll. McCain say's he "likes being the underdog". His campaign has no theme, it's all over the place. He just responds to whatever is the hot issue for the day. No message, no cohesion, no direction, no passion. This is the best that the Republican party can produce?

Posted by: davethewave | Jun 26, 2008 2:07:21 AM

There are laws governing the way donated campaign money can be spent and that is why Obama can't just reach into his coffers and give Hillary some cash. People have to donate money directly to Hillary. I'm reluctant to do it based on principle. She dug herself into a hole, she can get herself out of it. I wouldn't expect anyone to pay my debt. But I feel sorry for her and I'm a softy, so I'll probably donate a few bucks to help out.

Posted by: Davethewave | Jun 26, 2008 1:59:31 AM

why not just print out more money like we usually do? sure it will decrease the value of our dollar but hell, we've been doing that for years. they hilary can just use that money to pay off her debts.

Posted by: freedom is dead | Jun 26, 2008 12:19:56 AM

Leave hilary alone! Leave her alone! she didnt do anything to you! let her debts go and just let her get on with her life. she is just like the rest of. just trying to make it through these hard times! LEAVE HILARY ALONE! waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

Posted by: andy | Jun 26, 2008 12:17:44 AM

President Obama will pay back ALL debts 'in November', so max out your credit cards!

Posted by: barf simpson | Jun 25, 2008 7:06:29 PM

I can't believe it: A Democrat suggesting that other help someone out of a mess she created for herself? Where have I heard that one before?

Posted by: Lisa Again | Jun 25, 2008 6:27:12 PM

I like how Barack takes no responsibility for assisting his fellow democrat, instead asking anonymous "donors" to help her despite all the cash he has on hand. He is as big of a jerk as all of you gleeful Barack supporters who can't resist getting last digs into Clinton supporters.

/Voted HRC in Primary
/McCain '08

Posted by: Kyle D. | Jun 25, 2008 6:17:20 PM

If Obama really wants to make a change.
He would tell Hillary "you dug your hole now climb in and cover it". Then take the $10 million dollars and donate it to the people of Illinois, Iowa and Missouri who have a desparate need for it. Wouldn't that be a politcal shock showing he cares about the people.

Posted by: Gene | Jun 25, 2008 2:11:40 PM

Also, I would like to point out that HRC supporters not donating to her debt does NOT hurt Obama. It only hurts HRC, I don't understand the comments about how you won't donate to her b/c of your dislike for Obama.

Posted by: Nikole | Jun 25, 2008 12:40:57 PM

Don't get it twisted. Obama says to those that are "so inclined" to give to Clinton. I will not contribute to a woman that continued on with a race that was essentially over, putting herself into debt. I feel bad for all the sandwhich shops she stiffed, but there is no way I would help to pay her back what she put in to her campaign.

Posted by: Nikole | Jun 25, 2008 12:35:43 PM

" it is not a women issue, or a race issue. it is an integrity issue."

No. It's a Republican pretending to be a Democrat issue.

Posted by: Harvey Stockwood | Jun 25, 2008 12:21:20 PM

Payoff.

Hillary is smart. I bet she is wearing a "Hillary 2012" t-shirt under her pantsuit.

Posted by: Sally J. | Jun 25, 2008 11:38:52 AM

As some may have already noted, I would much rather retire Clinton than her debt - especially as quite a chunk of it was money she "loaned" to her campaign. Let her walk away free can clear from a campaign she decided to drag on? I don't think so.

Posted by: Publius | Jun 25, 2008 11:19:50 AM

Hillary supporters don't automatically migrate to Obama because we're thinking people - not sheep of the Democratic party. Obama is too radical for many of us - and he'll prove too radical for many who voted for him should he be elected. Kind of like all those people who voted for Bush and now regret it.

Posted by: HoosierSue | Jun 25, 2008 9:10:25 AM
---------------------------

I agree Sue. Thankfully there will be MILLIONS of people who will not vote for Obama b/c they know a phony when the hear him. We can certainly rely on the repubs this time as they have proven our point TWICE!
So McCain will benefit from the DNC and their major error!

Posted by: HP Boston | Jun 25, 2008 11:00:07 AM

It is typical for rivals to help the other retire debt after primary process because it makes for party unity towards general election.

At the same time, it is reported that if only 20% of Hillary's 18 million voters sit out or vote McCain, Obama loses in November. That is only about 4 million voters.

Sources say, Al Gore may try to become the Dem nominee when Obama may be driven out by his own scandals unleased by media. Apparently Obama's only role is to rid Hillary, then self destruct so Gore will waltz in and claim the nomination in August.

What do you think?

Posted by: francine223 | Jun 25, 2008 10:38:13 AM

You say you donated money to Hillary Clinton's campaign? SUCKERS!

Posted by: LongT | Jun 25, 2008 9:15:43 AM

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