Breaking News: Some senior Clinton staff go unpaid

Not a good sign.

According to a bulletin recently posted on Time magazine's blog, The Page, some senior staff for Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign have begun working without pay to save money for the New York senator's cash-crunched political effort. Those reportedly working without salary include campaign manager and longtime Clinton confidante Patti Solis Doyle.

At the same time today, according to The Times' Peter Nicholas, the Clinton campaign conceded that late last month the senator loaned her own campaign $5 million of personal money. At a news conference at her campaign's Virginia headquarters Clinton said:

"I loaned it because I believe very strongly in this campaign. We had a great month fundraising in January -- broke all records. But my opponent was able to raise more money. We intended....

to be competitive and we were and I think the results last night proved the wisdom of my investment."

In fact, the Clinton campaign raised less than $14 million last month compared to the $32 million reported by Sen. Barack Obama's campaign. Although Clinton is wealthy and her $5 million pales in comparison to the $35.5 million Republican Mitt Romney gave to his own campaign, this could be a sign of serious financial trouble coming out of the indecisive Super Tuesday voting.

Late this afternoon Politico.com's Jeanne Cummings, quoting unnamed sources in the Obama campaign, reported his campaign was on a pace to raise $30 million more this month, including $2.2 million in new money in the past 24 hours.

Tuesday Clinton's campaign co-chairman Terry McAuliffe played down reports of financial difficulty. "We have done up to this point $130-something million dollars," he said. "Hillary Clinton has plenty of resources going forward. No one should ever worry about Hillary Clinton having the necessary resources -- ever. She's never worried about them before and she's not going to start worrying about them now."

But in recent weeks her campaign has clearly been economizing with the candidate herself, for instance, forgoing her usual chartered private jet to ride with her campaign press corps in a balky airliner.

Clinton is not the first candidate to experience financial challenges in this campaign season. Last summer, after severe staff cuts, Arizona Sen. John McCain began flying by himself in the economy section of commercial airliners. Now, he's the GOP frontrunner. Then, in early January in what would presage his campaign's ultimate collapse later that month, another one-time frontrunner, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani had his senior staff also take similar "voluntary" salary suspensions.

Clinton also said today she intended to resume intensive campaigning. But when a reporter sought to ask another question, she retorted, "The press conference is over."

(UPDATE: Tonight, the Obama campaign sought to take advantage of the surprising Clinton financial difficulties with an e-mail headlined "Startling news" to supporters seeking donations to match her $5 million, which campaign manager David Plouffe speculated might increase to $20 million. He said the Illinois senator has taken in $3 million since the polls closed on Feb. 5. And he praised the "more than 650,000 people like you (who've) taken ownership of this campaign" through donations.

(Additionally, Joe Trippi, former campaign manager for John Edwards, said Clinton's money troubles put the New York senator "at a tremendous disadvantage moving forward. The worst thing to be is an 800-pound gorilla who's out of money. The cultural shock for the campaign is incredible.")

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Julie B.]

This sounds like a complete publicity stunt. First she cries twice -- both on nights before voting days. Now -- after Obama gives her a run for her money -- like HANS said above, she's pulls a McCain re-do and has the press circulating a sympathy ploy.

Works with some people. Good luck with that.

This country needs Obama and Edwards like crazy.

[LisaW]

It's my understanding, from reading articles across the web, that Clinton's campaign money (not the $ she "loaned"), came from people who donated the legal max. Obama's campaign money is coming mostly from people who are contributing $200 or less. So *she* has gotten big donations from a few, and *he* is getting smaller donations from a much higher number of people, and more frequently.

I can't think of a single reason to feel sorry for her. She thought it would be a slam-dunk, and it hasn't been... and won't be.

[jake501]

Frankly, I find it funny people are saying Obama won super Tuesday. Last Time I checked Hillary has more delegates now, won the largest and most important states, while Obama won states that have 900-50,000 democratic voters, states that have lots of African Americans, on top of advantage in states that caucus vs. a primary. Which the former last time I checked is a bit more undemocratic (I admit there are exceptions). The Media is *clearly* biased toward Obama and refuse to report his rule breaking ads (a deal he signed) in Florida, and money from crooks (which he *claims* to have returned). Honestly, if Hillary did any of that the media would jump on her and declare her "politically dead" and instead they try to make it seem like she broke the rules in Florida by holding a fund raiser which wasn't against the rules at all.

My point is that the Obama campaign is becoming more and more an oxymoron. He claims to be against the "old gaurd" per say in Washington ruling while he accepts high profile (and media covered) endorsements from Senator Kerry, Senator Kennedy etc, etc, etc. My point being all considered, Hillary is doing very very well right now and she has leads in Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania --once again--last I checked. So I think with Media bias, and Obama being one heck of a poet Hillary is doing VERY well right now and I don't doubt her campaign at all.

Also I agree, Hillary supporters are lower class and cannot afford to give as much which brings me to my final point. If Obama promises change, and loads of his supporters are "rich" what kind of change are we going to get? More tax breaks for upper America? Obama hasn't been too clear on what kind of change at this point....

But we will all stay turn...

[JimF]

Somebody in that campaign better cut back on Bill's expense and entertainment account.

[Angel Savio]

I agree Hillary's Campaign is DEAD!!! Just proves that women are simply bad at managing finances. And somehow we expected her to manage our economy?

[mike]

Oh wow 14 million isnt enough for her boo hoo she cant zip around in a private jet. Give me a break, she doesnt need any more money. She either lavishly spent way more than she had the resources to, OR she spent money counting on future donations to continue to finance her campaign... either way thats financially irresponsible.
Is she going to take money out of her own pocket once she's president?

[Jason from CA]

She's done. Spending her own money and having staff work for free. She even sent out a new round of Snail Mail propaganda.

We are the ones we have been waiting for.
Obama 2008

[Me]

Honestly, not trying to be rude, but to the person who said Hilllary's supporters are all low income and can not afford to donate, does that not tell us something?

People who have managed in their life to be so financially poor off they cannot even kick in $10 are her support base? Damn, makes me wonder why. Is she going to dish tons of welfare to them?

Obama has`raised almost $5 million since the polls shut. He has people pouring money at him.

Hillary is not paying staff, and is not getting many donations. Plus, where the hell did this $5 million come from? The Clintons were flat broke when they left office, even borrowed the down payment for the house. How many arms deals did Bill broker for this money?

Hillary is headed down. People do not like a sinking ship, it will only get worse for her. Media lambasting, Bill's deals coming under greater scrutiny, appearing to be fiscally irresponsible etc...

Stick in fork in her, she's done.

[Art]

I like the "experts' analysis" that Obama is winning over the more educated, the more affluent and the younger voters. Am I supposed to believe that the younger voters are mostly responsible for Obama's raising $ 32 mil+ recently in addition to last year?? Can we add up all the votes Obama has received and multiply that by $200.00(before it gets tracked)?
Stop bringing up Hillary's "dirt". At the young age of 46, he's already got mud on his reputation for his association with questionable characters in Illinois. Let's wait til he turns 60 and see how "clean" he remains.

Stop listening to his beautiful speeches, ask him how he will do it????? If you just got hope yesterday, where have you been? The country needs help/solutions!!! Not someone who will say to you 4 years from now "oops, sorry but at least I tried!!"

[Jim & Z.]

The Obama money is an acknowledged reality. Count the number of times the media talks favorably of Obama and its significance can be felt. Unfortunately for Obama money can't always buy votes, as Super Tuesday showed.

Vote for the change the media establishment fears, vote for Hillary Clinton.

[Brad]

Oh, she's been fighting her whole life alright... fighting for power, fighting for Bill, fighting for Walmart, fighting for Israel, fighting for corporate America, carpet-bagging her way from Arkansas to Washington, to New York and now, hopefully back to Washington.

Hillary is Goliath, Obama is David. Go David.

[Jim]

I would just add that she has been supporting poor people while on the board of Walmart approving more part time jobs to exclude individuals from healthcare benefits. Yeah she is for the poor if it means more millions for her and Bill.

GO NADER

[Brad]

Actually Hillary has far more large donor and corporate money than Obama -- check out Opensecrets.org.

Hillary has take 56% of her contributions from Business interests. Sizable percentage from PACs.

Obama has taken only 26% from business. All of his money comes from individual donors, no PACs.

[Andrea]

I don't understand why nobody really says anything about Obama. After Tuesday results and the video on the web it is obvious that Obama is courting the Black vote and people under thirty. It makes sense consiidering it worked. It saddens me how people are being racist and only voting for him because he is Black. I use to be for him , before it was cool to be now I'm for Hilary. How ironic, in the web video all those celebrities quoting MLK, yet his whole message was no to be judged on the color of one's skin but the content of thier character. How unlike celebs to be for a fashionable cause. The guy said it was the first time he was political, I guess the supreme court , abortion, gay rights, and the war weren't as important as having a Black president. Personally, it terrified having the idoit appoint a sumpreme court justice. It already is showing, with some of thier descion and other judges little bush appointed.

[Jwal]

One thing should be clear, Clinton should not lose because Obama has more money. We should see this out to the end with both candidates, not with one because he got John Kerry's phone book.

Unfortunately, I am one of those poorer Clinton supporters that cannot donate. I hope, however, that she gets the funds she needs and continues to run. Our country deserves it, no matter who you support.

[Tom J]

What political junkies forget...

300,000,000 people in the United States
650,000 contributors to the Obama campaign so far
? contributors to the Clinton campaign so far (but I think it's about half of Obama's number)

Can you spot the gap? VERY few people actually contribute to presidential campaigns. Mostly they whine about the people who do.

As for the 'Goliath' comparison...Obama accepts no money from federal PACs, and he has lots of small-amount contributors. The intention is to avoid having contributors thiinking they're 'owed' favors in return. The only thing they' going to get ia honest government and a new direction. Which of course is a bargain, when you think about it.

Check here and scroll down:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/donordems.asp?cycle=2008
Compare Obama and Clinton. Then click on some other choices in the lefthand banner. Lots of interesting stuff.
There's also:
http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/mapApp.do
Want more?
http://www.dmoz.org/Regional/North_America/United_States/Society_and_Culture/Politics/Candidates_and_Campaigns/Presidential/2008/

This campaign season has so much more data available, easily searched, sliced and diced, than every before. Take advantage of it!

imo: The more you know, the more you support Obama! :-)

[Oscar]

I'm an immigrant, father of 2, unemployed, uninsured, my house close to foreclosure. Every dollar in my pocket is important to me and my young family.

But I believe so much in what Hillary Clinton can do for people like us, who struggle every day to put food on the table and provide for our families... that I willingly will part with my precious $10 and contribute to Hillary's campaign which I see now to be in some financial difficulties.

You don't know what $10 mean to me now, but I'll give it to Hillary because I believe in what HILLARY CAN AND WILL DO --- not what Obama says and hopes he will do --- for our country.

[Lordcanning]

Let us face it. Obama is a legitimate candidate (whether one likes him or not). Hillary is a politician's wife. Her first and only "independent" job was that of a US senator; her only achievement is a botched health care reform. If she is nominated, McCain will have her for dinner (and will need Pepto-Bismal afterwards). If by some fluke she is elected, she will have to be impeached within a year because of some stupidity of other. Let us get over this sordid story, and elect a real president.

[Mister Wu]

How many LATimess Obama bias letters have I to read. You don't suppose that the LATimes may have endorsed him for a reason, like he's the best American for the job?

[zakk]

Yasuko Kitago,

Yeh, Hillary has been fighting for women right and poor since her college age. How does she manage to loan the campaign $5 million of her own money?

Guess if she can turn a $1,000 investment into $100,000 overnight, she can accumulate lots of cash. Unfortunately she won't tell us her secret. It may have something to do with occupying the white house.

[Natali]

I love how you can tell Amy Dugan is working for Hillary...
What she says is not true at all, quote the Chicago Tribune, "Obama raised $6.9 million—more than a quarter of his total—over the Internet from more than 50,000 online donors, a base of supporters his campaign hopes to cultivate into regular givers. His campaign said 90 percent of the online contributions were for $100 or less," and he reported DOUBLE the number of donors Hillary did.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-070404obama-money,0,7560926.story

[FJ Stratford]

Yes. Let's look into who is giving money to Obama.

I'm sure we'll see more Rezkos come out of the woodwork.

Come out come out wherever you are!

NO-BAMA NO WAY!

[david Goolkasian]

It is not that Hillary is anything terrible. It is just that OBAMA is so AMAZING.

[Ed Martinez]

Reply to Phil Leake. Come on with this statement

"Obama does not have Hillraisers, or special friends. Everyone is equal."

Have you never heard of Opraha the great and her blind followers.

[jsahiri]

So, Hillary goes from being inevitable, to underdog and now to financially broke, all of that in a mere 4 months. The world is changing, fast. May be she will do another tear, as she tried to do at Yale the other day. It has worked once, it might work again.