Money Matters: Fear And Loyalty in '08

Amidst the constant barrage of news on presidential candidates and campaigns, it's sometimes hard to remember that the Iowa caucuses are still nearly a year away: Giuliani and Price-Of-Milkgate, anyone? During the long wait for the voting to begin, there are actually many other stories. Right now, it's money.

To get a better idea of the how donations, boosters and candidates mix, I'll be talking on and off the record with experienced fundraisers from assorted campaigns. Today, I spoke with Leo Hindley Jr., a cable television magnate and mover and shaker in the Edwards camp, about the sometimes sticky subject of loyalty to the Clintons.

Every Democrat who once supported President or Senator Clinton now has to decide whether to continue to do so or head in a new direction. Public changes of loyalty can be messy, as the David Geffen affair showed, and the political gets personal very quickly. Who knows what other fireworks we'll see?

Hindrey insists that just because someone donates to a campaign doesn't necessarily mean that candidate has their vote, "I know for a fact that people gave to Sen. Clinton and have no intention to vote for her in the primary," he says.

Are people giving out of loyalty or fear? Both, says Hindley. "When [Clinton fundraiser Terry McAuliffe] gets up there and says, 'If you don't give, and she wins, we'll remember you,' that's very unnerving."

What is this, give or we go to the mattresses? Hindrey says, "No one of us should question why some people give - whether someone gave out of conviction that [Senator Clinton] should be president or out of loyalty or out of fear. But I think her money comes from all three sorts."