Hillary Clinton has raised $49 million for campaign

[Herman Munster]

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650198661,00.html

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, who is leading her Republican opponent by 29 points or more in recent polls, has raised almost $49 million for her re-election campaign, according to a Federal Election Commission filing. Clinton had $15.8 million in cash at the end of September, more than the total campaign fund-raising of such fellow incumbent senators as Ohio Republican Mike DeWine.

The money may be rolled into a presidential campaign should Clinton, 58, decide to run in 2008. It also allows her to help Democrats in tighter races now. In October, for the second straight month, she donated $1 million to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and also gave $250,000 to its counterpart in the House, her campaign said. "We are doing all we can to support Democrats in New York and around the country in this critical election year," said Patti Solis Doyle, the executive director of Clinton's re-election committee, in a statement. The DSCC, run by Clinton's fellow New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, raises funds for senatorial candidates throughout the country. Clinton is running against former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer. A Siena College Research Institute poll last month found Clinton leading by a margin of 62 percent to 33 percent.

Clinton also reported spending about $33 million over the course of the campaign. Since she has had little need to advertise to defend the race, she may be using the money to help with a potential White House bid by building donor lists and recruiting volunteers, said Jennifer Duffy, who tracks Senate races for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report in Washington. "It's the investment they have clearly made," Duffy said. "Those are big numbers for somebody who doesn't have a race."

[bluestateguy]

1. I have a lot of issues with Hillary, but I'll say this

She would have a shitload of money for 2008 if she were the nominee. She could even forgo the general election matching funds and raise and spend money at will. Those of us demanding a 50 state strategy for 2008 might want to remember that doing that will take money.

[Herman Munster]

3. and for all her detractors at DU

She raised $49 million and only has $15 million on hand. She has spent tens of millions of dollars on helping getting democrats elected. All those trips she's taken across the country campaigning for other democrats, all those donations to candidates, and the democratic senate and house election committees.

People will remember that. She's collecting a hell of a lot of IOU's come primary time.

[madfloridian]

6. Who do you consider detractors? Those who question?

I don't consider myself a detractor, I consider myself a Democrat who wants change in the party.

We will get it eventually, but no one but God has that much money available.

[Herman Munster]

8. Her detractors are

posters who find every opportunity to denigrate the Clinton's and don't acknowledge their contributions to the party.

I hope they realize how much work it is raising $49 million and then being generous enough to give more than half of it away to get other democrats elected. Raising that much money doesn't happen overnight. It's long and hard work.

[madfloridian]

9. I hope you consider me a questioner and not a detractor.

However, I will continue to work for new people and changes in the party.

I can acknowledge the past which was a very good one under Clinton's presidency. I can further say that some would prefer a choice, not to be overwhelmed in 08.

[gully]

10. Indeed.

eom

[madfloridian]

11. "She's collecting a hell of a lot of IOU's come primary time'

Now that you got exactly right. Buying loyalty.

Not so sure in my mind that this is always a good thing. Depends on the reasons, but you seem to agree with many of us that is her goal in a lot of cases.

She would make a great president, but so would many others. They need opportunity as well.

[madfloridian]

4. Then we would have no alternative choice.

What's with equating the 50 state thingy with Hillary raising money. She won't even need the party apparatus. She will have her own.

That was not the purpose of building the party in all the states. Far from it.

I see your point about her not needing money, but that same point means she is a shoo-in. That is not giving people a choice.

[election_2004]

5. On the other hand....

Some would argue, quite more persuasively, that it would be smarter for Senator Clinton to instead use that warchest in 2008 to help reelect vulnerable Democratic candidates in the House/Senate (i.e. Tim Johnson, Mary Landrieu), help the Dems gain more seats against vulnerable Republican incumbents (i.e. Gordon Smith, Susan Collins), and help out Democratic challengers in competitive open-seat races (i.e. potentially New Mexico, Michigan).

That would serve a Democratic 50-state strategy much more effectively than Hillary focusing her warchest on a bloody presidential battle.

[madfloridian]

2. No one else even comes close to that amount.

She also has the former president on the road as well, though for others so far. That is an unbeatable combination.

I like the Clintons very much, but I would like a choice in 08. I don't want it made for me this early on. That's more like having your own party.

[NEDem]

7. delete

Its late and I don't want to get flamed right now