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

[Flick08]

I hope some of the money she loans her campaign will go towards paying her debt to all of the 'hard-working Americans' that she's stiffed over the past few months.

[CCrossland]

I'm already hearing comments that Sen. Obama's camp "SHOULD" pay off Hillary's debts to keep peace among the party. Anyone else hearing this BS? If that is expected I hope that doesn't include paying Hillary back the $11 million plus she's borrowed from herself. That's a personal debt, not a campaing dept as far as I'm concerned & she can use her $109 million..

[Testtubebaby]

Hell no, and I hope to god that somebody with some guts will tell MSNBC 's Tim Russert to stuff it!

[CocteausTwin]

If that happens, I will call in my contribution today to Obama as a fraudulent charge. From where is this "suggestion" (CON) coming? Please tell me.

[Braveheart1]

I heard Tim Russert state that as part of bringing the party back together, perhaps Barack Obama should offer to pay Hillary's campaign debt (and of course, Mark Penn is still owed money and is part of that outstanding debt). I agree, that's complete BS! That's HER debt to reconcile!

[Blackstone]

After the crushing defeat in NC her whole campaign seems on the verge of collapse. Lending herself
money after that supposed £10 million in 24 hours after PA shows it was pure spin as many suspected. The secrets and lies are catching up with her and she is being seen for what she is a loser.

[katzooks]

er... "Operation Chaos."

[dBlogger]

Since Hillary is spending so freely in her quixotic (read:hopeless) quest for the nomination, I've got a wonderful bridge here in NY to sell her. I'll give her a special deal.

[Micaanab]

I'm confused. So Bill can go to a huge contributors function, get paid huge amounts of money just to say a speech, and then give it to Hillery to loan to her campaign but the contributor can't just give her the money upfront.
Isn't that some sort of money laundering?
Then if she looses she doesn't have to pay herself back? If she wins then she pays for it with the money she makes as president (our tax money).

[JamieJay]

THE FEC (FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION) WILL INVESTIGATE THE SOURCE OF THE LOANS, JUST LIKE THEY DID WITH JOHN MCCAIN. JOHN MCCAIN, REFUSED TO COOPERATE WITH THE FEC QUESTIONS OF THE SOURCE OF HIS LOAN, SO NOW HE HAS TO TAKE PUBLIC FINANCING. BOTH HILLARY AND JOHN MCCAIN ARE ALREADY BEING INVESTIGATED FOR FUNDRAISERS THAT THEY WERE RECEIVED FROM FORIEGN ENTITIES. HILLARY'S FUNDRAISER FROM ELTON JOHN IS BEING INVESTIGATED. JOHN MCCAIN RECEIVED A FUNDRAISER IN THE FORM OF A "LUNCHEON", IN GREAT BRITIAN FROM THE "ROTHCHILD" FAMILY, WHEN HE WENT OVERSEAS IN MARCH. IT'S GOING TO GET VERY MURKY FOR THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN, IF IT TURNS OUT THAT THE LOAN MONEY WAS FROM HIS DUBAI INTERESTS CALLED YUCAIPA.

[Micaanab]

Thanks.... I guess. I just think it's a little screwy a candidate can actually loan their campaign money they don't have to pay back if they loose. And will there be a real investigation? And if she or McCain win and then ar e found guilty do they get impeached? Well I guess they wouldn't go that far. But if they cheated to win what difference does it make ? You still win. It's sounds to me like a pretty good gamble.

[TroubleNYC]

I think it's time for the Obama supporters here to show that they're not sore winners. Look, it's pretty much over for Hillary. She ran a great race and fought bravely.

Time for you folks to help unite the party.

[rjean]

unite dems.....all you dems hold hands sing kummy and hug each other....

you're running another loser......

but you can all be "kin" until mccain knocks the nobody OUT..................

[christieZ]

rjean, you're delusional. McCain looks like an old toad next to Obama; he can hardly keep his Muslims straight. Sunni? Shiite? Sunni? Shiite? After the first debate, IT'S CURTAINS FOR MCCAIN. Keep on wishing, though. O-BA-MA! O-BA-MA!

[HeadScratcher]

Agreed. Except that "you folks" runs both ways - wouldn't you agree? I don't think the stuff will stop until Hillary ends her campaign. It's senseless now, wasting time, resources, and opportunities to go after McCain and heal the Party. Her remaining in the race at this point is nuts.

[cartopple]

I fully agree with your sentiment, Trouble. I am glad that this thing appears to be winding down. I have supported Obama for a long time, while trying to respect Clinton's supporters. I did not do this because I wanted to be able to say that its time to unite, but because I believe that there can be a productive dialog without pooping on people, regardless how high emotions run. Its just common courtesy, and I think that we owe it to each other as humans, not any subdivision of that category.
That being said, I think that if/when Hillary decides that its time ti call it quits, she will be able to do it with a gracious spirit, and Barack will be able to receive it in kind. So, Please let us begin to heal the wounds, and work together to defeat the horrible ideas that the Republicans represent.

[JamieJay]

FORMER SENATOR GEORGE MCGOVERN, HAS NOW URGED HILLARY TO DROP OUT OF THE RACE. THEIR RELATIONSHIP GOES BACK A VERY LONG WAY!! GEORGE, IS NOW ENDORSING BARACK OBAMA!! HAROLD WOLFSON, SAID EARLIER TODAY THAT HILLARY IS GOING TO LOAN HER CAMPAIGN EVEN "MORE" MONEY. THE FEC WILL HAVE TO INVESTIGATE THE FIRS LOAN, LET ALONE THE SECOND LOAN. THEY WILL DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE LOAN, BECAUSE OF BILL'S FOREIGN CONNECTIONS OVERSEAS. HILLARY IS TRYING TO BUY THE PRESIDENCY. SHE AND BILL CLINTON HAS SPLIT THE PARTY WITH THEIR ANTICS. THE QUESTION FOR HILLARY IS: WHEN DOES COMMON SENSE COME INTO PLAY?

[CocteausTwin]

Now I am only kidding by this comment -- are you using a teletype? I have an old 8086 I can give you that enable lowercase. Like I said it was just an extremely mild, and not that funny, comment. But I COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU ANY MORE. ;~)

I do understand the caps though. I know many that have visual impairments and many others that are are incensed to the point of shouting at this time (probably myself included.)

[Micaanab]

Actually that did make me chuckle a bit.

[tathagat]

Ah this post more appropriate here ::

Wonder if she overdrawn on the funds which is reserved for GE in November... She is suppose to return that... could HuffPo please inform us how the 'vanquished' campaign funds are handled... Are there chances of corruption with these funds... any precedence ever B4?!?

BTW Obama won't pay for her debts.

[polaris12]

The kicker here is that the Obama campaign may have to absorb some of Clinton's campaign debt to get her and Bill to go quietly into the night. That would be very unfair to those of us who contributed to the Obama campaign thinking that our money was going to support his efforts. She is now protracting the campaign further and Obama supporters will end up paying for it. Count me out!

[Wishb0ne]

I was worried about that, too. In fact, it's the main reason I didn't reply to last night's e-mail from Barack. If he assumes her debt, I'll be unhappy.

[CocteausTwin]

It seems to me that if you decided not contribute based on something that Tim said (or someone else) then it sounds like a statement of subtrafuge (sorry if misspelled -- try to find the correct spelling from google -- God I am getting lazy!.) (Wo)Man this race has made me a bit paranoid.

[cartopple]

Wishbone,
You are entitled to your feeling of unhappiness about it. It is important to raise the level of dialogue and behavior now, and let go of some of the I think that there ought to be some sort of concession made to Clinton in order to bring the party together. I don't know if money is the right thing, or even if that would be acceptable for her, but there needs to be a gesture, or several gestures, that will make it clear to Clinton's supporters that we acknowledge them and respect them and want them to make this a win for our country as a whole.

[obamagal]

I understand completely, however there is another way to look at this. If HRC would (finally) step down if Obama helped with the debt, versus staying in and continuing to damage the DNC, is it not perhaps worth it in the end? I don't like it any more than you do, but I believe this angle needs to be considered, if it were to mean our chances of winning in November increase. Is our ultimate goal not to elect President Obama?

[polaris12]

I agree, if she were to step down now, but if she is going to spend the rest of the month running up more debt that we are called upon to pay for, then it concerns me. If she really wants to unite the party, the thing to do is concede now and bow out gracefully, then perhaps a more conciliatory atmosphere can be created that will make it worthwhile.

[rjean]

obama supporters paying for hillybean's campaign.....hafta laugh...

what a mell of a hess....................

[CocteausTwin]

Obama's campaign pay for hers? What an absurd idea. If she was someone who behaved honorably, someone who was not in possession of multiple millions of dollars, I might not feel conned by a partial use of my small contribution to Our next President of the United States.

[woodchips]

Is that even legal? It seems that when you donate to Obama's campaign, it's with the understanding that it is for his campaign, not to pay for Hillary to bash him.

If Obama feels that he can help the party and appease Hillary's supporters by paying off her debts, then let him make a special appeal for contributions to a separate fund for that purpose.

[Scalar]

Obama has effectively won the nomination here.

I plan on reaching out to the Hillary supporters in my personal circle, we will need them in the general election. The worst thing we can do in victory is gloat. Let us focus on giving the Republicans a sound thrashing in the general.

La gente unida jamás será vencida
Si se puede

[obamagal]

Amen.

[CocteausTwin]

Oh I do not choose to gloat. I can deal with, be friends with, someone who has a different opinion or solution. I think this is when we will see who was a Clinton supporter and who was just a rethug pretending to be a Clinton supporter. Let's all pay close attention and call the Rethugs out for who they are.

[srobert]

But what fun is winning if we can't gloat? The winners should be entitled to at least one day of gloating. Happy Gloating Day!

[CocteausTwin]

Oh who is this "Forino???" The chairperson for a "RNC Victory." Wow last night truly was the deciding race. The GE is just going to be filled with laughter.

[NoSillyName]

Sure wish I could do that!!

[rationalthought1]

Hillary is running the danger of moving from discusting to pathetic. Did you see Bill's face behind Hillary? The old alpha lion is resigned to his fate - his time is over.

[rjean]

if you think the clintons are going quietly into that good night......youre all fools....

but then you're democrats

[sierrarisings1]

McGoven just switch to Obama And told hillary "its time to GO"

[rjean]

well then that does it...who wouldnt be DILIRIOUS WITH JOY to have mcgovern...

he can advise barry how to lose ........................

[CocteausTwin]

I apologize, but wasn't it the McGovern campaign from which she got her grass roots experience? Does that not matter at all? Please take the time to type a response.

[katzooks]

After each defeat and each narrow win, the Hillary campaign sneers, "Yeah, but Obama outspent Clinton by yada yada number of dollars!"

The fact is, the campaign contributions to Obama's campaign are a direct reflection of the voter support that has held him in the lead. The Clinton folks would like us to view his campaign contributions as a bad thing, the same way they want us to see intellect and intelligence as a bad thing. Orwellian? Sour grapes? Yes and yes.

Were the Clinton campaign enjoying a similar enthusiasm of campaign contributions, they would rightfully see this as a reflection of voter support. But not so for Obama.

Watch and see if the Clintons don't spin Obama's campaign contributions into yet more evidence that Obama is elitist, and his voters are (in the words of a few Clinton spokesmen on CNN last night) nothing more than "African Americans and eggheads" and "Volvo drivin', NPR totebag totin' liberals.

Conveniently, the Clinton campaign ignores that her narrow win in Indiana last night was accomplished through Rush Limbaugh's "Operation Rescue" voters. It should be no mystery that this particular demographic is not inclined to actually give campaign contributions, which explains at least part of the poverty her campaign is experiencing.

[Testtubebaby]

He out spends her because her campaign sucks, her donors were big timers that tapped out, and why would people that can't pay for gas, give her some money!

[CocteausTwin]

Well said and reflective of my own thoughts.