Clinton asks top donors to meeting with Obama

WASHINGTON — Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton plan to meet with some of her top contributors next week in an effort to calm donors who remain frustrated with Obama's presidential campaign.

The meeting is set for June 26 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, several top Clinton fundraisers said Tuesday. The former first lady will introduce Obama to her financial backers.

Jonathan Mantz, Clinton's national finance director, notified donors about the meeting by e-mail Tuesday and urged them to attend and to contribute to Obama, who clinched the Democratic Party's nomination on June 3.

Two people closely involved with Clinton's fundraising said the meeting had taken on added urgency after several of her money "bundlers" complained that they felt their concerns weren't heard during meetings last week with Obama campaign officials in New York and Washington.

Both individuals spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the meeting.

Among other things, the donors want to make sure Obama knows that in order to get their help he needs to help Clinton pay down her campaign debt. As of the end of April, Clinton had more than $20 million in debt, a figure that likely increased by the time she suspended her campaign June 7.

Obama cannot use his campaign money to help Clinton with her debt, which includes at least $11 million of her own money. But he can encourage his donors to contribute to her campaign.

The two fundraisers who discussed the meeting said many donors also are furious that Obama's campaign hired Patti Solis Doyle as chief of staff to Obama's eventual running mate, calling it a slap in the face to Clinton and an implicit acknowledgment that she would not be on the ticket with him.

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Obama spokesman Bill Burton said no inference about the selection of a running mate should be made from Solis Doyle's hiring.

"This was a long and hotly contested fight, so obviously there are some strong feelings about how it turned out and what needs to happen moving forward," he said. "But we're confident that the Democrats are united in their desire to defeat (Republican) John McCain."

Clinton and Obama will meet with two different groups of donors at the Mayflower a week from Thursday. One larger group will include donors who raised $250,000 for Clinton's campaign. A more intimate session will be reserved for about 30 fundraisers who collected $1 million or more.

"The challenge is reaching out to donors to ask them for money for a candidate that they've been on the opposite side of for a year and a half," said Alexander Heckler, Clinton's Florida finance chairman. "However, we have to take a deep breath and realize that we need to all work together and have a Democratic president elected."

Another Clinton fundraiser suggested there was no rift, noting that a vigorous primary contest had just ended.

"The Obama campaign has reached out to the Clinton people," said Hassan Nemazee, Clinton's national finance co-chairman. "I think this is a process that is being undertaken and hopefully we will be in a position to assimilate the Clinton fundraising operation and the Obama fundraising operation together in the near future."

"The reality is that we're two weeks from the day that the last primary was held," he added. "It takes a little while for staff to talk to each other, for lay organizations to talk to one another. It's taken a while to get the candidates available."

Heckler said he has been working with Obama's camp and said he and Obama's Florida finance chairman, Kirk Wagar, have been speaking daily to discuss fundraising strategies.

Separately Tuesday, Obama met in Washington with most members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, many of whom had supported Clinton. Obama acknowledged that he still has work to do to win Hispanic votes.

All the caucus members who attended the meeting pledged to support Obama, according to several members who spoke privately afterward.

Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas said he told Obama he had worked his heart out for the former first lady and would work just as hard for Obama's election.

___

Beth Fouhy reported from New York. Associated Press writer Suzanne Gamboa contributed to this report.

Comments

[personalpolitical]

HP: Take down that ridiculous headline.

[HumeSkeptic]

You forgot to say "Mr. Gorbachev ..."

[DRPike]

You actually are funny.

[gladys46]

I'm still not figuring out why H.ll can't retire her debts!! Certain people were reportedly willing to finance a second election in Fl and Michican ... where are they and what happened to their generous offer!

[ThunderclapNewman]

The money limits are in effect, just as they are for the primary and general election.

She has to get back the 11 million she loaned herself before the convention or it's considered a campaign contribution.

The vendors she's stiffed can be repaid at any time.

[gladys46]

Surely, they have extended family members ... geez, all those blind trusts and all!?

[DRPike]

$1.66 from each of her 18 million supporters and the whole thing is gone...

[closetodemfection]

She will retire her debts, geez. Her big donors being maxed out for the primary - She has 30 million in her GE fund - a portion of that may go to it if authorized by her donors. That's what these meetings are about, duh.

[OneVoiceInACrowd]

Sure yeah, we'll foot her bill, in a call for party unity. But don't be fooled, this is money that could be used to campaign against McCain, in fact would have if she didn't run her campaign finances so poorly. I find it offensive that her bundlers are trying to strong arm Obama.

How much more is she/they going to want?

Time to settle this and move on to the battle against the GOP

[abby4ever]

I don't want to be a cynic, but here is what worries me. Human beings will sometimes support a person overtly, while undermining that same person covertly. And that is what Hillary might do, Hillary and Bill. I say this based on some of their behavior during the nominee contest. And I hope that Obama, who obviously admires some things ---not all, hopefully ---about Hillary, will be wise.

[JRandomPoster]

I think that a lot of Obama supporters would feel a lot better about Obama helping Hillary out with the debt from her mismanaged campaign if she had shown a modicum of class and respect for Obama; at least as much as she showed for McCain.

[siri2k]

I suppose he has to do this. But what a mammoth bummer. It's been GREAT her being gone. I can't wait till he's elected and she crawls back into her little Senate Corner, to vote for war and against all of his policies and his entire agenda to bring us back to stability, ethical responsibility and into the 21st century. What a horrible nasty female, and Thank God she won't be making her back room deals and asserting her legacy building machine upon us and the entire world!

[lafrance]

I wish she'd stay gone. The thing I don't get is that these donors expect him to take care of her bills and then put her on the ticket.
Wrong!
He should not have to do squat. It's her mess, let her clean it up .
And, he is the nominee. He choses who he wants and it;'s not Hillary so, why do they and the media and all try to shove them together like they are some kind of buddy team.
Enough!
The Clinton era is over and let's just move on.

[kidshare]

I'm surprised she wasn't wearing a scarf in that photo!

[partyofone]

Most of Hillary's big donors are as mean, dishonest and self-interested as she is. If Obama courts them, wins their support and dollars, it will be by compromising his values. His integrity, campaign, and presidency and the future of the nation will suffer. You can't change poliitcs by catering to the Bush-Clinton-corporate establishment.

[ThunderclapNewman]

That's the silliest thing you've ever posted.

Her donors are well-established Dems and should be eager to support the nominee.

The dollar-amount limits are the same for her donors as they are for his.

All should be working to elect O in Nov.
It involves no values compromise on O's part.

You should trust him by now.

[FilthyPerson]

o's values are, shall we say, nebulous, so compromise has been easy.

[PrdAmerican]

I would only ask do these "donors" include the fella that tried to bribe the young democrats, or the group who sent ransom letters to Pelosi and Dean?

[artsandminds]

You are right on "partyofone", and don't let anyone tell you differantly. Clinton's supporters are so amazingly selfish, they think the world revolves around them "many donors also are furious that Obama's campaign hired Patti Solis Doyle" get over it, your candidate lost and you need to either contribute, or shut the hell up, Obama can hire who ever he wants and it is not a slap in the face of anyone! Many here have said that Clinton and her supporters where not nearly as nasty to Obama as McCain will be, I say BS. They are republicans, that’s what they do and when they put out crap about Obama, it is seen as partisan. But, when Clinton and her ilk attacked Obama it was one of our own and thus it stuck. If you look at Florida politics you see Clinton supporters, selfish ideologs who are far more concerned about either the well being of Israel or Cuba than the US. Obama must not conform to their myopic view of the world.

[michelv]

As an Obama supporter, it seems like you don't have much faith in his judgment. I didn't vote for him during the primary, but I give him far more credit than you are willing to give.

[MaxxEliot]

Well get over it!! This is politics and your savior is just another politician.

[Maxiesid]

"Two people closely involved with Clinton's fundraising said the meeting had taken on added urgency after several of her money "bundlers" complained that they felt their concerns weren't heard during meetings last week with Obama campaign officials in New York and Washington."
I am hoping this means that Obama's campaign told these people that no matter how much money they donate, they are not going to get special handling of 'their concerns', otherwise, it sounds like they are trying to buy influence when he becomes president. Since change from that system is what Obama got so many votes for proposing, I sincerely hope he doesn't sell out the small donors in order to gain the big fat cats that have a totally different agenda. We are all hoping for a better presidency from him than this. As for demanding that he help pay off Hillary's debts, I have an idea. Why don't they take THEIR donations, and instead of giving them to Obama, use them to pay off Hillary's debts? That seems like a perfect solution. He doesn't give the appearance of caving in to people that like to buy influence, and they get their wish that her campaign debt gets paid off.

[Dvmx]

Demanding Obama pay back her campaign debts, which she incurred running divisive ads against him after all, is typical over-the-top Clinton. Besides, what was it, 109 million she and Bill earned 'giving speeches'? She can eat her debt on her own funds.
I contribute regularly to Obama's campaign, and I don't want that money going to pay Hillary's debt.
She incurred that debt AFTER it became all but impossible for her to win the nomination, it's her personal cost of ambition, not a bill the Democratic Party should get stuck with.

[Rachel36]

I agree. She still wants to be able to pull the strings: first is was the voters, now it's the purse. She did not anticipate moving beyond Feb. 5 so she's now strapped for dough.

[smoo]

I agree with you. I can imagine her donors feeling they have the right to push his donors out the way. Her donors lost. Obama won with his donors and the 1M of Americans that donated to his campaign. Now here comes her BobJohnson types upset that....well... who really gives f*ck. He has enough and will have enough to put this thing together. If they want to stay relevant, her supporters need come one board and take it easy. It will be a hugh problem is her top money people came on thinking they can unseat his top money people. Aint gonna work.

I do like that they are working underground to ensure that when the heat is on come this fall, there will be no background bickering and undermining. Apparently that hampered the Kerry run.

[closetodemfection]

.... instead of giving them to Obama, use them to pay off Hillary's debts?

That's exactly what they're doing. They're making sure her donors pay her debt down first. But a lot of them are maxed out for the primary so they have to go to the GE funds.

I really don't get why everyone is so hung up about the donors. The donors are donating and O and H are working together. That is the bigger point.

[kate123]

They can't pay off Hillary's debt. They've probably already maxed out their contributions to her. But they can contribute to Obama with the promise that he will try to get some of his big money supporters to contribute to paying off her debt. His supporters may have maxed out to him, but they haven't maxed out to her.

[DShawn233]

Sure, I can see Bob Johnson (BET Founder) being a good sport and helping with fundraising for the "Future President" after the allegations concerning drug use, that he made, while campaigning during the early primaries. I'm sure that he will be there just waiting to help out.
Yes He Will.

[Researchguy66]

In all fairness, Obama documented his own drug use. Bob Johnson just brought it up in public.

[hope]

Of course he will. Any Dem with a brain the size of a pea will. If only for three reasons- Scotus, Scotus, Scotus.

[k6007]

What an absolute P I G! I hope O gives it a stern talking to, then boot it back to the expensive sty, from whence it came. (Spit, sign of the evil eye)

[CuriousPerson]

So, if BO picks HRC as VP running mate...what will those poor deluded souls at Hillaryis44 have to gripe about?

[closetodemfection]

John Mc Cane. It will force them to direct their crazy energy at the proper enemy.

[ThunderclapNewman]

They'll come up with something.

[Researchguy66]

He won't. They're holding out for Hillary to somehow grab the nom or to run as an Indy. I'd like her to join McCain on the Republican ticket, but doubt that's likely.

[hope]

I think before we worry about paying off Hi!!'s debts, we should buy C!ndy McC some lunch.

We have a moral obligation to stamp out world hunger.

[Midnightrain]

She's not hungry ... at least not for food.

[williamg]

I don't think she eats food. She runs on 8 double A batteries.

[HumeSkeptic]

So does her hubby.

[gladys46]

LOL! Must be expensive!

[simplyirresistible]

Thank you, Hillary for stepping up.

http://healinganation.wordpress.com/

[michelv]

It's heart warming to see that political support in this country seems not too different from support for a sports team. It's us versus them, and pathetically, a fictitious "we." Some folks here might as well just continue saying nani nani boo boo to the "other" candidate and its supporters. With this kind of a base, who knows, McCain may actually have a chance.

[StephenBarrett]

Again. I totally agree. Some of the discourse from dems on this site is no better than what I see when looking on conservative sites. Saying Obumma and picking on Michelle Obama. I must admit I do find the comments funny, but let's see the big picture. I assume we are all here because we support Obama, so let's do every single thing we can to uphold his vision and truly support him. Who knows, maybe some conservatives troll this site like I do theirs. Maybe a moderate republican from a swing state comes here to read some articles and opinions and maybe our discourse strikes a chord and confirms his vote for McCain. Maybe he gets his friends and family to still vote McCain. It could be a stretch but we need Obama as prez so bad that I see every vote mattering. If you want to debate, then talk substance or you might as well become a republican.

[CtJean]

Sometimes you just have to chuckle or lol to get through some of the bs. Without humor we wouldn't be human. So yeah, nani nani boo boo to you too (affectionately of course). I for one, could use some laughter too.

[DRPike]

Ok, now I feel bad. They just posted my comment from 10:33, much later than others but at least posted, so if they do not scrub the two duplicates I later attempted please forgive me, it was not an attempt to multi-post.

[HumeSkeptic]

You multi-posted. I'm reporting you to NSA. Get ready for Gitmo.

[DRPike]

I know, I know...but it's so annoying when someone thinks their thought is worth posting over and over.

Thanks for the levity though, I'm no longer considering suicide.

[HumeSkeptic]

Had H!llary supporters spent more time supporting her than complaining about 0bama supporters, she might have won the nomination.

Thank you, H!llary supporters.

[EinChicago]

had 0bama Kultists spent more time thinking about issues rather than mindelssly chuggiung Kool Aid, she might have won the nomination.

[Midnightrain]

Please post thoughtful comments. Please. The kool-aid thing is so stale and tired.

[williamg]

Maybe if you donated a couple dollars to her campaign, she wouldn't be $30 million in debt and beggin 0bama for help.

[HumeSkeptic]

We did follow issues, little Genius. You were too busy complaining and trying to be funny to notice it.

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

By “mindlessly chugging Kool Aid”, do you mean voting and donating?

In your own haterism kinda way you are congratulating us.

I say thank you. :)

[k6007]

Why would you care? Mc Tic voter.

[closetodemfection]

I assume you only comment here to amuse yourself?

[HumeSkeptic]

That's certainly part of it. But a bigger part is to pi$$ off idiots like you. That's the real pleasure.

[DRPike]

He amuses me.

[DRPike]

And if they has supported her half as well as Obama supporters did him she would not be in debt.

[JJeff88]

Obama spokesman Bill Burton said no inference about the selection of a running mate should be made from Solis Doyle's hiring.

"This was a long and hotly contested fight, so obviously there are some strong feelings about how it turned out and what needs to happen moving forward," he said. "But we're confident that the Democrats are united in their desire to defeat (Republican) John McCain."

Burton's answer as appropriate and "sage."

But if you're an interested voter - regardless of your feelings for any of the candidates - and the least bit curious, your logical question has to be:

"So why - in the midst of the controversy over a possible Clinton VP candidacy - did you hire a staffer that she fired? And why did you appoint her Chief of Staff for what right now is a blank space on the ballot? "

Burton still hasn't answered that question; yet there has to be some sort of plausible answer. Perhaps, it was Patti's previous close association with David Axelrod. Perhaps Hillary wanted to set right a tough decision she felt had to be made at the time but was unfair to Solis-Doyle. Or maybe Patti is considered by the campaign to be "that good" - especially her effectiveness winning over Latino voting blocs.

Whatever the case, it would be nice to hear something a bit more substantive than boiler plate about "a tough contest", "licking wounds" and "unifying."

[k6007]

Why hire someone for a position that is still empty? Logistics, plain and simple. Why Solis-Doyle? Why not?
The msm is worthless!! REPORT THE FACTS!! They're no better than gossipmongers.

[siri2k]

And how does it make any sense that "hil" supporters are so upset that Doyle joined Obama? The "queen" tossed her. Why does anyone care what happens to someone they didn't want???
Just another thing to be OUTRAGED about, I suppose.
Thank God Obama supporters were and are so strong and united and tossed "hil"! We saved Clinton supporters from themselves and they don't even know it.