Posted: Friday, February 08, 2008 4:59 PM by Mark Murray
From NBC/NJ's Athena Jones
TACOMA, WA -- Hillary Clinton made a financial appeal to voters at a large rally at the University of Puget Sound, just days after announcing she had loaned her campaign $5 million at the end of January.
The New York senator said that after the announcement, a friend had been surprised that she needed the money. "
As some of you may have heard, I recently loaned my campaign some money because I intended to be competitive going into Super Tuesday, and I think it turned out to be a good investment with all those victories across the country. And when a friend of mine heard that I had had loaned my campaign some money she said 'Well, why didn't you tell me you needed help and of course we'll be there for you?' Well, I have been overwhelmed by the response that I've received over the last three days," Clinton said, before sharing stories of some of the 75,000 new contributors who have donated to her campaign in the last few days, including a woman who said she wanted to contribute to the campaign rather than go out for Valentine's Day.
"So I hope you will go to hillaryclinton.com read about the issues, read about what I've done for 35 years, and you will help support this campaign," the senator said.
The direct appeal to voters for money -– the first this reporter has heard at such an event –- came after a conference call in which her campaign announced they had raised $8 million online since the close of polls in California on Tuesday.
The campaign has repeatedly said that Obama has an advantage in the next several contests, but the campaign insists they are not conceding any votes. In a battle for Washintong State endorsements, Clinton has the support of both of the state's US senators, Maria Cantwell, who campaigned with her today, and Patty Murray, along with Rep. Jay Inslee. The campaign also announced the endorsement of Rep. Norm Dicks today, just hours after Washington's Gov. Christine Gregoire said she was throwing her support behind Obama.
Obama has consistently done better in caucus states and today, Clinton reprised a line similar to what was heard in the days leading up the Iowa caucuses, stressing the idea that not everyone can participate in the process and asking voters to think about those who can't be there. "If this were a primary where everybody could vote all day, I'd feel pretty good about it. But it's not. It's a caucus and you gotta show up at 1 o'clock and I already met three nurses outside and I said 'Well, are you gonna caucus for me?' and they said 'Well, we're working tomorrow', so I need all of you to redouble your efforts to go to the caucuses tomorrow to be there to stand up for what we need in a president," she said.
In an attempt to appeal to Washington State voters, the senator mentioned a key environmental issue for the state, restoring Puget Sound. "I know a little bit about this because I've been fighting to save the Long Island Sound, which is between New York and Connecticut. See I believe we owe our highest duty to our environment," she said. "When you look at Puget Sound and its importance to the ecosystem as well as to tourism and all other kinds of business and pleasure and the health of this community, this is a national priority."
The event was billed as one focused on nurses and health care, and Clinton took the opportunity to thank the American Nurses Association for its support, to explain her plan for universal health care and to argue that Obama's plan would leave 15 million people uninsured.
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