Clinton lends her struggling campaign $6.4 million

WASHINGTON — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton lent her presidential campaign $6.4 million over the past month, her campaign said Wednesday, underscoring the financial advantage held by her rival, Barack Obama.

The money more than doubled Clinton's personal investment in her bid for the Democratic nomination. She gave her campaign $5 million earlier this year.

A campaign aide said Clinton gave her campaign another $5 million on April 11, more than a week before the Pennsylvania primary. She then again dipped into her personal wealth for $1 million last week and $425,000 on Monday, one day before the North Carolina and Indiana primaries.

Clinton's campaign reported raising $10 million online after her Pennsylvania victory on April 22. Evidently, the money was not enough and her fundraising was unable to keep up with her expenses heading into Tuesday's contests.

Moreover, Obama has routinely outspent her in primary after primary and has shown little difficulty tapping his vast network of donors. He spent more than $7 million on advertising head of Tuesday's primaries in North Carolina and Indiana to her nearly $4 million.

According to the latest campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, Obama began the month of April with $42 million in the bank for the primary to Clinton's $9.3 million.

But Clinton had debts of $10.3 million at the start of the month, much of it money owed to her main polling, phone banking and advertising consultants.

Comments

[Vantunow]

Sent another small donation to Obama today! Everyone keep it going! So close!

[JAMShocks]

If Hillary believes so much in her campaign, then why is she "loaning" herself money?

Wouldn't someone who believes in what they are doing spend their own money, like any hard-working entrepreneur does? C'mon Hillary show us that you are really of the common people.

And, does part of this loan constitute that supposed one night fundraising of $10mm?

She wants to milk her supporters into covering the money she has spent on "HER" own campaign!

Or, is it that the campaign is really a front for someone else? The hidden power behind Hillary? The foreign folks who have been funding Bill Clinton's Presidential Library, maybe?

[JAMShocks]

As Hillary continues her march towards a very unlikely nomination and the continued polarization towards the one viable democratic option, we should be clear about several things:

1st-With rhetoric such as "...oblite­rating Iran!" Hillary obviously does not share the sentiments of most women, who believe that if the world were run by women there would be less war.

2nd-The pundits, the press and the public should not talk if the financial disparities between the two campaigns as Obama's financial advantages, but rather as Hillary's lack of public support. Barack's campaign is suported by the little people, over a million and a half common people have sent money to keep his campaign comfortably afloat, so where is this support she claims in "the states that matter?" Why aren't those people keeping her campaign going, because she does not enjoy the support of the public, that's why.

3rd-This past weekend's Kentucky Derby is the major indicator of this nomination process. Big Brown came from the worst start position in Derby history to win the crown. And, while Eight Belles, the only filly in the competition ran a strong race, she only managed a 2nd place finish and ran so hard that she broke her own front ankles (both of them) and had to be euthanized on the track...Po­or Hillary. She needs to get out now before she destroy's her own legacy and the strength she would possess as the lead Senator of the US.

`nuff said!

[CocteausTwin]

'nuff said and well said!

[DennyCrane]

Why would you ever vote for someone who can't even manage their own finances? How is she going to manage the federal budget?

[obamagal]

Even more scary, "or the Presidency".

[skyreader7]

I loaned myself $2, but couldn't get myself a gallon of gasoline. Before the republicans took over, I could have. What's next? Under John "Let's Privatize" McCain we will buying water for $4 a gallon.

[eaglecapri]

And she has another $103 million to go!

[kidvidkid]

There goes Chelsea's inheritance. Oh, wait...she works for a "money-grubbing Wall Street" hedge fund. She'll be fine.

[LINY516]

As far as this idea of Obama paying her debts, my only question is how many small time Obama contributors would never give another dime to his campaign if he gave her money? I know, I would not give another dime to Obama if he paid off all or a part of her debt. He may shoot himself in the foot and lose much needed support if he's conned or pushed into do it. Clinton can use her own personal funds to pay off all of her debt.

[PlantGod72]

I'm counting on Obama to demonstrate the good judgment he's shown throughout this campaign and NOT cover Hillary's debts.

With the likely prospect of a swarm of super-delegates jumping ship this month in his favor, the contest will be over, and Barack can focus on McCain and his GLARING deficiencies.

OBAMA '08

[Vantunow]

I feel the same way. I love Obama.

I really don't want a single penny of mine going to 109 million dollar couple - who by the way are amongst 10,400 richest families in US. Nobody told them to continue but their own personal ambition. I gave whatever I can, and its not easy, but I gave it for a good man and good cause. I didn't give it to be given to Elitist self-centered selfish ambitious and divisive people.

C'mon Barack, you need every single penny against McCain. They are rich enough solve their own problems.

[PennP]

Does anyone know whether there is a precedent for this? Legally, I wonder if he CAN use any of our donations to pay her debts. The money we've given him is for use in his primary campaign (for those of us still under $2,300 at this point). If he can't use our general-election donations for his primary expenses, how could the law permit him to use ANY of our contributions for another campaign entirely?

If it's legal and he DOES do something so foolish, I'll not only never give him another cent, I'll ask for the return of everything I've given to date.

Last, I find this whole notion sexist in a way that disadvantages the male in the equation. As if he's somehow beholden to her, compelled to cover the little lady's expenses. You think for a split second that SHE would think she has some kind of obligation to cover HIS bills if the dynamics were reversed? This isn't a divorce. She's a multi-millionaire blue-collar working gal with a husband who can snag more millions just for going somewhere and twanging for 45 minutes. She and he can cover her bills.

[gun]

Let's give her credit:

She put up 11.4 million. (And since it didn't kill Obama, it probably made him stronger.)

Now she has to shut up.

I had a cranky know-it-all home room teacher named Mrs. Ibbs at Sharples Junior High, who hammered us every morning for half an hour.

Graduation then was such a relief. And for today's graduation, I thank Indiana and North Carolina!

Now we can throw our hats in the air -- reflect on and relish Obama's class -- and prepare to take on old Mr. McCain, who has become the designated champion for the forces of darkness.

[CocteausTwin]

As a North Carolinian, I thank you for helping us to this point of graduation.

[QuicksilverKW]

I am an over 50 white woman who would like to see a woman be president because I believe the way we handle problems and how we see things are different than men. But if it isn't the right woman then it blows our first good chance to do that. But it is so important for us to NOT be petty. When I see anyone saying stupid, degrading and name calling posts it is so sad. It makes them sound like bullies in a grade school play yard. It's like people are sticking their tongues out at each other with their thumbs in their ears and their fingers wagging. The Obama supporters who do that are no better than the Clinto supporters who do the same thing. Are we adults or are we 8 years old?

With Hillary, ego got in the way because she was led to believe for several years that it would be hers to have and she could turn it around. I believe that she thought her "experience" was enough to carry her - but in reality it worked against her because she resorted to dirty politics. I am sick and tired of politians who feel that the only way to win is to make the other person look bad and twist things around into something they aren't. Obama is the first person who has tried to run a campaign about what is important - and it is so hard to not defend yourself against hatemongers.

[rabprevent]

QuicksilverKW,
Well said, I agree with you on several fronts, I do particularly think that hers and Bill's ego got in her way and she never made an effort to change people's perception of her even as her negatives went up, she did not seem to care and I think the biggest mistake she made was not to assure people that she wasn't willing to destroy the party for her own good. I like you, wanted a woman for president as I grew tired of the good old boys network and I think she chose to walk away from that to look tough to men which lead to her pandering. As Hillary went on, she turned me off totally and turned off many with her antics and her asking to change rules and goal post everytime she lost, really looked pathetic and embarrassing and I believe that most people saw that.
With that said, I think now she needs to bow out gracefully if she chooses and as an Obama fan, we need to win with dignity and not stoop to hatred and stupidity. Let's all come together to send these Republicans money hungry fools out of office so we can restore our middle class and reputation in the world as the greatest country.

[CocteausTwin]

I too look forward to a females perspective in our Greatest Office. But you said it well in that other factors took precedence. There will be a female President soon. Do not believe anything else. It just might be another eight years. Eight years that we might be able to see with health care as opposed to health response.

[ChiGuy]

One can only hope that the first people to be paid are those hard working small businesses around the country with which her campaign had contracted , but had been left behind, uncompensated for services rendered.
In good faith, they put forth a lot of materials and services at their own up-front expense, and I've read of at least three cases where months later, they were still waiting for the Clinton camp to pay its bills.

Do the right thing, Hillary.

[readyfornewleadership]

Don't you wonder why all those little people who support her don't send her any money?

[Testtubebaby]

If you couldn’t pay for gas would you send you money to a millionaire? I accuse them of being doorknobs for the most part but hopefully a smidgen of grey matter exists.

[cinnysmom]

exactly, she was pandering to the voters in NC and IN about this gas tax holiday, and how they couldn't afford to pay for gas, now how does she expect them to donate to her cause, if they can't afford gas? Doesn't make sense to me, and I think the people of IN and NC saw through it.

[JR49]

My question is how come that working class girl has another 6 million dollars to spend for nothing because she lost the race already.
Hmm and now I am curious to know if she wasn't born in Charleston­...may be her mom had her in the truck traveling through the country.

[jethrock]

Now Hillary just wants to stay in the campaign so she can raise money to pay off her debts... and pay back her loan to herself with interest. Ha

She'll make a little money off her campaign..­. What's the interest on 11.4 million (that we know of)?

[JamieJay]

GEORGE MCGOVERN, A LONG TIME CLINTON FRIEND, HAS TOLD HILLARY TO CONCEDE HER CAMPAIGN!!!!! HE'S NOW ENDORSING BARACK OBAMA!!!!

[CocteausTwin]

Now if that is not the cherry on top of the sundae, I do not know what could be.