- Daily Photo: Obama Jokes Around at G-20
- Blackwater gets replaced in Iraq
- Daily Photo: U.S. Marines Look Out for Taliban in Afghanistan
- Hillary Clinton the Tomboy and Her "Ah-Ha" Moment
- Obama Administration Sudan Envoy Headed to Region
- Daily Photo: Potential Flashpoint in Iraq
- Clinton Says New Afghanistan-Pakistan Plan Depends on Diplomacy
- Exclusive: Three Israeli Airstrikes Against Sudan
- Additional 4,000 Troops to Be Ordered to Afghanistan
- Daily Photo: Navy Submarine Trains in the Arctic
- Alarm Over North Korea Missile Prep
- Anti-Terror Stimulus? US Offers Rewards for Top Terrorists
- Daily Photo: Pakistani Women in Refugee Camp
- Condoleezza Rice Appears on "The Tonight Show"
- Diplomat and Aid Group Sound the Alarm on Darfur Camp Situation
- auto industry rescue
- Ballotwatch
- Biden, Joe
- Bush, George W.
- Clinton, Bill
- Clinton, Hillary
- Dodd, Chris
- Edwards, John
- Giuliani, Rudy
- Gravel, Mike
- Huckabee, Mike
- Hunter, Duncan
- Inauguration
- Iraq
- Kucinich, Dennis
- McCain, John
- Obama, Barack
- Palin, Sarah
- Paul, Ron
- Romney, Mitt
- Tancredo, Tom
- Thompson, Fred
- Veepstakes
- Vote 2008: Democrats
- Vote 2008: Republicans
- Washington
- White House
« Previous | Main | Next »
Clinton's High-Priced Political Consultants
February 22, 2008 1:18 PM
ABC News' Rick Klein Reports: Is Howard Wolfson worth 22 Robert Gibbses?
Wolfson and Gibbs are the communications directors for the remaining Democratic presidential contenders -- Wolfson for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., Gibbs for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.
The latest campaign finance figures show that Wolfson was paid $266,000 for his services last month. Gibbs, meanwhile, makes $144,000 a year -- $12,000 a month, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times on Friday.
The two men come to their jobs with vastly different experiences and portfolios. Gibbs came straight from Obama's Senate office, while Wolfson is a more seasoned political operative who suspended a lucrative career in the private sector to work for Clinton, whom he serves as a top-level adviser in addition to managing her communications operations.
But the disparity in pay speaks to a larger truth about the Democratic race: Clinton is burning through money faster than she can raise it, while Obama continues to sock cash away even while out-spending Clinton on advertising in key states.
Obama raised $36 million in January, and spent $29.8 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. In the same month, Clinton raised $13.9 million and had to float herself a $5 million loan; she spent $27.7 million -- just $2 million less than Obama, even though she was out-raised by more than a 2-1 margin.
And what she's spending the money on is raising eyebrows. She spent $95,000 on groceries at a Hy-Vee discount supermarket in West Des Moines, Iowa -- supplying her caucus supporters with deli trays, in a contest she ultimately lost to Obama.
The New York Times reported Friday that the firm of her top strategist, Mark Penn, has billed the campaign for more than $10 million in consulting, direct mail, and other services, including $3.8 million in January alone.
Obama has his high-priced consultants as well -- top strategist David Axelrod's firm has raked in $1.2 million so far -- but Obama appears able to afford it: With a superior online fundraising operation, Obama continues to raise well in excess of $1 million a day, according to his campaign.
February 22, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (119)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Glad too see her spending her money wisely. I don't want to know what she's going to do with my tax money if she gets in office.
Posted by: jt | Feb 22, 2008 3:35:27 PM
It's time those clintons to just ride off into the sunset. get them off my TV I don't want to ever have to look at those faces again. Don't want to hear that name on my new progr Together there isn't an ounce of good in them.
Posted by: del | Feb 22, 2008 3:36:59 PM
Have no fear folks, once she is back in the White House, she can shore up her financial mismanagement by renting out the Lincoln Bedroom.
Posted by: heacedone | Feb 22, 2008 3:41:11 PM
Obama will fall flat on his face in November, and then Hillary will run again in 2012.
Posted by: NS | Feb 22, 2008 3:50:48 PM
How about Obamas spending habits. You have just proven how irrelevant abc news is.
Posted by: Carmen | Feb 22, 2008 3:53:13 PM
HILLARY CLINTON’S 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE BS: The first 15 years she spent in “public service” she worked for the biggest law firm in Little Rock, Arkansas. Her goal then: make as much money as possible, ethics be damned. Almost forgot her stint working in Goldwater’s campaign for president. Then there was White Water, Travelgate Vincent Foster, et al. Then there was her job working at Wal-Mart where she did an outstanding job of fighting off the workers attempts to organize a union for collective bargaining. And what a disaster her health plan was. When she took the DC Bar exam she failed twice. By then, she was fighting against the “Vast right-wing conspiracy.” Stole items from the White House and later gave them back - only because she was caught. The most extensive experience this woman has is serving tea to foreign dignitaries. Claimed to be a New Yorker so she could run for the senate. She has a reputation of being the queen of earmarks and recently secured a 1.5 million dollar earmark awarded to a Harlem minister who endorsed her candidacy for President. She also has accepted more corporate donations than any of the Republican candidates.
Voted to authorize Iraq war; voted to give Bush power to go to war against Iran and voted for NAFTA. AND: Do you want an ex-con for a Co-President?
Posted by: Randle Bate | Feb 22, 2008 4:21:12 PM
Hillary had my vote, but this trend is alarming. She needs to have some real quick restraint if she is going to hang on to my vote. Unfortunately with Hillary, it seems to always be about the money. Is there any truth to this whole Peter Paul VS Hillary? Comments?
Posted by: Poorah | Feb 22, 2008 4:26:10 PM
Hil is overspending right now because she needs to. This is for the office of the President people. If she doesn't win this election, she can't help the country. It's not like when she gets elected, and she will get elected, that she is going to blow through money like this.
Posted by: Jason | Feb 22, 2008 4:28:34 PM
It's none of your business how much she's spending on her OWN campaign.... Of course, Barry Hussein Obama doesn't have to spend that much because he's getting FREE good press every single day!!!
Posted by: DMK | Feb 22, 2008 4:45:25 PM
Campaign spending is a nice sample for Clintons' 35 years experience. If she had suffered for americans, she will be tired and now she will think about taking retirement. But Clintons enjoyed more from Americans and still they are jealous to enjoy more by riping Americans. She is again and again talking about Health Care. People understood clearly that Clintons are just sugar coating for election. The best way to provide good health to americans is an affordable health insurance. Affordable health care is not possible until we have a lobbyists controlled commander. Well know that Clintons are far enough good for corporates and lobbyists. Good ideas are easily killed by these lobbyists and the brain of white house is almost made dead by these corporate lobbyists. For any job experience is a must. But experience of Clintons are not agreeable and categorist as the worst.
Particulary Clintons is having a 100% false resume. We need a president who should watch the fort standing with people and not a president who watch people from the fort standing with lobbyists. Clintons are like president watching people from fort. OBAMA is a person who watches the fort with the people. We trust bible just for the words of Jesus and the whole world is running on trust of these words. The same way I trust the words of OBAMA. Do not allow cheating Clintons to rule you.
Posted by: Marmayogi | Feb 22, 2008 5:07:19 PM
It is really simple, Obama inspires people, mainly the people that are in touch with technology and they donate to his campaign via the internet. The people voting for Clinton are out of touch with technology. The time has come where the baby boomers no longer control this country. Obama gets his message out and doesn't need to use the TV. Clinton has no choice, her supports only have dial up.
Posted by: Mark | Feb 22, 2008 5:09:54 PM
Mr. President Obama---Please do what is right for our country. Get us out of the middle east, Korea and Germany. Spend the money for the people not the military. We want you to end the clinton-bush garbage and be for the people which we believe you will.
Posted by: rockychance | Feb 22, 2008 5:14:09 PM
Mark - It isn't that "The people voting for Clinton are out of touch with technology," it's that the Clinton base is uneducated, and can't use technology. Obama wins with those with an education.
Posted by: Namako OH3 | Feb 22, 2008 5:16:11 PM
Namako OH3...... That was really funny! Thanks for the joke... "Obama wins with those with an education".... That's got to be quite an education..... I am sure you haven't had a chance to read some of the inane posts made at this site and others by those "educated" people.....
Posted by: DMK | Feb 22, 2008 5:34:58 PM
Hillary's true side is slowly emerging-someone who can't spend money quick enough. And we are supposed to trust her with the Presidency. Go home Hillary!
Posted by: terri | Feb 22, 2008 5:36:41 PM
yes, Hillary's campaign has had management problems, but just because Barack Obama has an excellent campaign doesn't mean he is going to be a perfect president. Hillary is a workhorse and Barack is a showhorse.
Posted by: SoniaB | Feb 22, 2008 5:41:43 PM
Clintons are investing for a huge harvest. They may even try to buy some super delegates. Even though Clintons are now the symbol of fail. Over spending is a not a good thing for anybody in this world. Think do we need a overspending business people to rule us or a common man to work for us. I hate rulers and Clintons. I honour the person who thinks about us and work for us. So, I decided myself away from Clintons and to stay with OBAMA - who always work for people.
Posted by: Marmayogi | Feb 22, 2008 5:48:21 PM
Obama is a diaster waiting to happen. He is a copycat, plagiarist, empty shirt, no experience, no solutions, big talker. Big metaphors like a preacher man. No substance. The R's are waiting to shred him for his crooked dealings with Rezko, his dope adventures, his muslim background, his lack of experience...he was a state legislator just two..get it TWO years ago. The man is not ready for Prime Time. A vote for Obama is a vote for McCain. Go Hillary, 08.
Posted by: mb | Feb 22, 2008 6:21:59 PM
If Obama/Osama's supporters spent as much time working for his campaign as they did filling every single blog in the blogosphere with their sexist, misinformed, belligerent rants, maybe he would have some original words, much less IDEAS.
Posted by: mb | Feb 22, 2008 6:26:27 PM
another smear by the main stream media MSM. Now that Hillary is getting some online donations, they want to discredit her. I wonder how much he has to pay for OPRAH's services?
Posted by: Ruby Sing | Feb 22, 2008 6:29:44 PM
Post a comment



