Clinton Loans Campaign $6.4 Million
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Facing a tough (and some say insurmountable) road to the nomination, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-N.Y.) campaign announced today that the senator has lent her campaign $6.425 million over the last month. Here is ABC's Jake Tapper's break down of the loans.
Howard Wolfson, Clinton's spokesman, said on a conference call this morning that the loans reflect Clinton's "dedication to the race" and that she is willing to continue to loan her campaign money to "make sure her message gets out." Wolfson also said Clinton's willingness to use her own money to stay in the race "is something that her supporters admire."
Wolfson also addressed a question regarding whether Clinton is drawing from the money her husband has made since leaving the White House, since more than $11 million in loans is about what Clinton has made from her book deals and Senate salary. "I dispute the notion that there is a difference" between the senator and her husband's bank accounts, Wolfson said. "Legally she is entitled to use up to 50 percent of their joint assets for her campaign, if she so chooses."
Most interesting, Wolfson said the campaign is still raising a lot of money but that he wouldn't be surprised if Clinton gave more money to the campaign.
Clinton's dedication aside, it is hard to interpret this as anything but Clinton being hard up for cash. Wolfson said he would later disclose how much money the campaign has raised since the primaries last night. Stay tuned for those numbers.
Comments:
Posted 05/07/2008 02:18pm with
It’s never a good sign when, because of necessity, a candidate is forced to put his or her own money into a political campaign…that is, unless the candidate is so rich that he/she is funding the entire election effort out from a personal fortune. That’s not the case for Hillary.
Given Obama’s strong showing last evening in North Carolina and his near victory in Indiana, expect that his money-raising juggernaut will continue. Mrs. Clinton will grow ever-more cash strapped and, ultimately, her campaign will be forced to reach the decision as to when to throw in the towel. Note that it’s no longer an “if” question, but a “when” question.