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Clinton Campaign Paints a Rosy Picture

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May 14, 2008 3:24 PM

ABC News' Kate Snow and Eloise Harper Report: On the day after her landslide victory in the West Virginia Democratic primary, Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign was eager to boast about momentum and try to dispel any rumors that it is running low on cash.

On their first conference call with the press since a week ago, campaign aides claimed they have the resources to go forward.

"Financially, we're in very good shape," said a cheerful campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe.  "We continue to raise more money.  We continue to need more money but we'll bring it in."

McAuliffe said the campaign raised "seven figures" following Clinton's West Virginia win but when pressed aides would not specify how much money had been raised.  Clinton heads to Los Angeles tomorrow for another fundraiser.

Reporters have no way of verifying exactly how much cash the Clinton campaign has on hand at the moment or how high her debt is, but it is certainly more than $20 million. And it may have grown larger than that.  The campaign is not due to release financial figures until next week.

The Clinton campaign was hosting a meeting with about 45 or 50 financial supporters this afternoon in Washington to make her case to them and ask them to continue raising money -- even as signs mount that she may not continue in the race beyond the last primary on June 3. The meeting was set up last week.

Wednesday night Clinton will host a party at her tony Washington residence for top donors.

Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson insists that the afternoon meeting is a regular quarterly check-in session, not an emergency session.

"The meeting is, as it always is, to give them a sense of where the race is, to thank them for their past support, and to urge their continued generosity," Wolfson said.

But the discussion at this meeting will be different than in previous quarters.  Much attention will likely focus on the campaign’s mounting debt.

Wolfson said Clinton has not discussed her debts or any way of eventually relieving the debt with Senator Obama but insiders believe if and when Clinton leaves the race, Obama will play a role in helping her alleviate that debt.

One prominent fundraiser who is attending the meeting said he believes fundraisers will be willing to stick with Clinton through the primaries.

"Our donors recognize that Senator Clinton has a shot at this," Wolfson said. "They’re not oblivious to the news that they read and see but they have stuck with us and my sense is that they are going to continue to be supportive and generous as best they can going forward."

Asked on the conference call if Clinton is staying in the race in order to better her future political prospects -- whether for a spot as Vice President, Senate Leader or a run for President in 2012 -- Wolfson said that was not Clinton's motivation.

"Senator Clinton is running for one reason and one reason only. She believes she's the best person to take on John McCain and she believes she is the best candidate in the field."

May 14, 2008 in Bush, George W. | Permalink | User Comments (30)

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@ Larry Oregon:
You take being obtuse to new depths. What's most amusing is that anyone with an IQ over 65 knows Obamaland is replete with such gems as the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, and anti-American Weatherman terrorists like Ayers and Dohrn. A veritable gaggle of turncoats, that even without the likes of Wright, Meeks, and Michelle, make for some excruciatingly uninformed supporters.

As a professor, I can tell you that attempting to educate people like you is no picnic. Even when provided with substantive data, some students can't seem to grasp what should be obvious.

Hopefully, the remaining uncommitted supers are smarter than you, and will wake up and smell the unelectable Obama latte.

Posted by: Emily | May 14, 2008 5:19:28 PM

"justme2see" , obviously you are a real rocket scientist if that's the best and most you can " contribute " but that's typical for a Republican . McCain the only sane vote ? Anyone voting McCain is totally ignorant and / or has a brain the size of a pea unless you are one of the top 5 % in wealth and income , then McCain is your man and the Republicans are your party ! Robin hoods in reverse , that's the Republicans , voting four more years of this Bush Republican insanity and madness is sane ? You must be from one of the "dueling banjo" states like West Virginia , you know there should be a mandatory IQ test that must be passed before people are allowed to vote , that would prevent your like from voting and the country would be better off , would have saved us from this George Bush Republican disaster and would prevent another one in MCcain or Clinton .

Posted by: Raymond | May 14, 2008 5:26:38 PM

I think it is time to cal a quit Hillary, you cannot even keep your campaign budget together, what makes you think we the people of America, and trust that you can run teh US any better!

Posted by: Gisele | May 14, 2008 6:12:42 PM

Larry Oregon:

I'm also a prof in a business division, and most of the students profoundly dislike our finance faculty. As for blogging, spring semester is over, as you should know.
Finally, I'd rather give to Hillary any day of the week, than to support Hamas' choice of nominee.

Posted by: Emily | May 14, 2008 6:14:58 PM

stophate

You convinced me not to vote for Hillz.

Posted by: The Commander Guy | May 14, 2008 8:33:58 PM

If gas is $4.00 a gallon, If the Iraq war is still going bad, if we are in a recession, If President Bush's approval rating is at 30%,let's look at the rising National debt, the shrinking of the dollar, Who really cares if McCain is too old, lost his bearings,whether he voted for Bush or not, whether he can't tell sunni from Shia, Whether or not Reverend Wright or Ayers will hurt Obama, or that Hamas wants Obama to win, or if Obama wears a lapel pin (Neither Clinton nor McCain wear one) or whether he misspoke of 57 states,whether we care if Clinton came under fire in Bosnia. People are worried about the real issues: Gas Prices, The War, The economy. The people will want CHANGE!!!!

Posted by: Don Hannaford | May 14, 2008 9:03:35 PM

The media is spreading the myth that Sen. Obama has already won the Democratic nomination and treating him as such. They are also saying that he would also win against John McCain. This is all propaganda; just like during the invasion of Iraq, remember?
Some people, same talking heads doing the same talk!
Sen. Clinton’s huge win in West Virginia, has national impact. She's up by 30 points in Nebraska! Florida and Michigan is still unresolved! Considering Sen. Obama has not won even one single major battle-ground state, like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Florida, Texas, New York, California, New Jersey, Massachusetts and so on and on, his most wins have come from caucuses, where small groups of zealots (MoveOn.Org people) operating to manipulate them. But that’s not going to help in the general election. You can figure out for yourself, what really matters in the general election and which Democratic candidate is stronger and more electable? If you look at the Electoral College stands as of right now, Clinton vs. Obama. These are “winner-take-all” electoral votes for each state, general election calculations. Florida and Michigan is not considered.
Clinton 261
Obama 181
Include Florida and Michigan;
Clinton 305
Obama 181
Lets say with Clinton winning Indiana, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Obama winning North Carolina, South Dakota, Oregon (which is too close to call at this time, and Montana, would then be, even without Florida and Michigan:
Clinton 285
Obama 209
Even if you give Indiana, to Obama, the totals would be, still without Florida and Michigan:
Clinton 274
Obama 220
We all know it takes 270 Electoral College votes to win the General Election. This shows which of the Democratic candidates is better able to win in the General Election. Sen. Obama also lacks support among women voters, Reagan Democrats, working class average Americans, Latinos, union members, older Americans and so on. Sen. Clinton would make a much stronger candidate to face Republican John McCain in the general election. African American black voters and city dwellings liberals have never won presidential elections for Democrats. Sen. Obama is too weak to win the presidency for Democrats! Therefore if Sen. Obama is the Democratic nominee, it would be a big mistake! The media is trying hard to anoint Sen. Obama as the democratic nominee, just like the way it took us over the cliff in Iraq!

Posted by: charleychaplin | May 15, 2008 3:02:28 PM

to Charley Chaplin.. I don't know how you got your numbers but you forget something. EITHER candidate can beat McCain. What you need to ask yourself is who's approach is going to be more effective. One who fights to get nothing done. Or one who builds consensus?

Primaries are determined to find the strong candidate for each party. Obama is winning that by executing a strategically superior and fiscally responsible campaign. Hillary isn't. She's riding coattails, playing race cards and using genderism. And despite all that she's still losing. So the better candidate is Obama and come the GE Obama is gonna walk all over McCain.

By pulling Republicans and Independents Obama is going to change the electoral map. Much like Jackie Robinson's entry changed BASEBALL!

Posted by: Avant Strangel | May 16, 2008 3:35:24 AM

I am a 50 year old white woman, with a biracial son and two biracial grandchildren so this is not coming from a racist but I think that Obama is A Muslin, Mafia spokesperson, and an uncle tom. If he gets in I'm thinking of moving to Russia at least there you know your screwed/////////////////

Posted by: Cynthia Erickson | May 16, 2008 10:00:16 PM

I am a 50 year old white woman, with a biracial son and two biracial grandchildren so this is not coming from a racist but I think that Obama is A Muslin, Mafia spokesperson, and an uncle tom. If he gets in I'm thinking of moving to Russia at least there you know your screwed/////////////////

Posted by: Cynthia Erickson | May 16, 2008 10:00:23 PM

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