Clinton Is Midterm Campaign’s Biggest Spender, Records Show, at $29.5 Million and Counting

[ECH1969]

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has spent more money in the midterm election cycle than any other politician running for office this year, campaign finance records show, investing more than twice as much as most candidates in tight races across the country.

To secure her Democratic re-election bid in New York, Mrs. Clinton spent $29.5 million through the middle of October, according to the Federal Election Commission, suggesting that she may have her sights on a future national campaign. “It may be that Clinton is spending so heavily in New York to try to accomplish the kind of landslide that President Bush enjoyed in 1998,” said Mr. Toner, referring to the Texas governor’s race eight years ago.

While Senator Rick Santorum, Republican of Pennsylvania, spent $21.5 million through the same time period, records show, his spending report comprises bills like $30.33 at Papa John’s pizza, $59.50 at Panera Bread and $74.34 at the Olive Garden.

Not so for Mrs. Clinton, whose campaign reported sending a $6,585 check to Flutterbyes for flowers in Las Vegas, $5,397.50 to Le Petit Gourmet Catering in Glendale, Colo., and $80,000 to Tavern on the Green in Manhattan. Those were among the bills gleaned from a page-by-page review of Mrs. Clinton’s third-quarter campaign finance report, which showed disbursements of more than $8 million.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/07/nyregion/07spend.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Go Hill!!!

Go to Iraq.

Pass another draconian bankruptcy bill, or "free" trade agreement. Introduce another bill criminalizing flag burning. Knock yourself out.

[saigon68]

21. Get more money from Murdoch too and keep the War going also

Keep it up especially the bombing and napalming of villages


when you run For President next year, there will be a lot of us here who will cheer, like we are cheering for losermann and we will be sure to be voting for another candidate in the primaries

[AIJ Alom]

2. Dang it Hill, you're a brilliant woman but we sure could have

used those funds in meaningful races across the country. I mean don't get me wrong,
I appreciate stopping by Jersey a couple of weeks back to give Bob Menendez a boost, but sheesh if you had only given the dough to Harold Ford or to all the House hopefuls. Regardless, we on the ground will get the job done.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. Nah

That wouldn't be sucking all of the air out of the room, would it?

[ECH1969]

5. lol

[fujiyama]

7. I'm with you completely

That money really could have been used across the country...Ford is a great example. McCaskill and even Cordin could have used some extra cash. Both are in tight races.

Just another reason NOT to vote for her in the primaries.

[OKNancy]

19. She gave 2.6 million to other candidates

it states in the article

[juajen]

4. Aw, come on, people

Everything's more expensive in New York. My daughter rented a closet there for $1400 seven years ago. Nuttin's cheap up there.

[fujiyama]

6. True things are expensive in NY

but why spend this money?

She had a cakewalk in this election. If she was smart, she barely should have bothered advertising and given that money to other candidates.

[TabulaRasa]

8. Because she's more concerned about Presidential ambitions

than she is about the country. What a disgrace! The Clintons are unbelievable, sometimes.

[fujiyama]

9. Exactly

I know she won't get my vote for the nomination.

Granted, she wasn't going to get it anyways. This just solidifes my opposition to her nomination.

[W.E.B. Du Bois]

16. Who do you support?

I think a lot of people feel that way.

[primavera]

31. Not even in NY does lunch have to cost $80K

I'd be happy to refer her to some places where you can get absolutely fabulous pastrami sandwiches for about $7.

[krkaufman]

10. How much money did she *really* need to spend to win re-election?

And how much of the money spent could have gone to other candidates across the country, to help in a Party landslide, instead of a Hillary landslide?

[Hawkowl]

11. Idiot

She is an idiot. Contrast her with Kerry, or Wes Clark, both of whom selflessly campaigned and raised money for dozens of candidates. They were busy building up political good will and IOU's with the party faithful. I think this is a monumental strategic political blunder on her part, and she won't win the nomination in 2008.

The country doesn't need another President who only thinks about me. me. me. ME! I've given Hill the benefit of the doubt..up til now. Let her stay in the Senate where her damage will be minimal.

[Hardrada]

12. Even narcissistic movie actors have been out campaigning

for Dems so I guess Hil is the "fairest of them all."

[Tellurian]

18. We have contrasted her with Kerry..

It would behoove you to at least give Hillary the benefit of the doubt for say, another 24hrs or so.
Oh, yes...the Kerry contrast. You've got to hand it to Hillary, she know when to quit talking, especially
when she's ahead. It's so much easier that way, when a future presidential hopeful shoots himself in the foot, although Hillary no doubt would offer to transport him to the hospital without animus in spite of all your Hillary bashing. She's one compassionate lady...

[karynnj]

23. Actually the compassion was missing

She knew the Reps had twisted a Kerry blunder to something it wasn't. The damage to Kerry will be that he did say something that made him look bad - but it clearly did not say what the Republicans said it did.

Hillary could have said Kerry was NOT saying that the troops were stupid, but it was an unfortunate statement that the Republicans were using. She would then have looked like a gracious person aware that anyone could make a gaffe that could be expolited in this environment. Kerry would still be as hurt by this - because the damage had nothing to do with Hillary. (Also the Republicans were obviously monitoring Kerry's comments and would have found something else to use to make the same point. Even comments that it can't be won militarily could have been used.)

What this does is reinforce the impression that she is cold and unforgiving. "Inappropriate" is a pretty strong word especially when Democrats easily forgave her husband for 6 months of lies. That was done with intent and it did damage the party. Kerry obviously didn't intend to botch a joke - no one does. He campaigned for 170 candidates and raised more money for other candidates than anyone. He looked exhausted at the LA event on the tape. He's human.

For Hillay, this reinforces the negative stereotype that she has of being a cold, somewhat unlikable person - unlike Bill Clinton, who is almost the image of the charming, impossible to not forgive bad boy.

[Tellurian]

28. Hi karynnj.. good of you to post

something other than the rubbish spewed by the die hard Hillary haters-

I always say, walk a mile and her shoes, then comeback and talk to me..

[karynnj]

30. I think what I posted stands by itself

I know Hillary has been a target herself, but she certainly did not show any kindness or compassion here. The fact is that Kerry was being swiftboated -

- he did botch a joke

but

- he does respect and care for the military and has for decades - in fact he used his credentials there to back Clinton on gays in the military and it was work that he played the lead role in that allowed Clinton to re-open relations with Vietnam.

Hillary opted o pile on rather than support Kerry in any way. I assume if the tables were turned, Kerry would have had Hillary's back as he has for several Democrats. Frankly Kerry's shoes over the last 2 years would have been harder to walk in.

[upi402]

13. Sen. Cantwell (D) WA $17mil about $14mil spent

Rupert Murdoch supporting her is VERY troublesome.

[AlGore-08.com]

14. And Cantwell has a serious challenger, unlike HRC

Cantwell's money is being spent to keep her seat out of GOP hands

[upi402]

15. Yep and he has far less dough to spend.

Off topic, but I am happy that E.M.I.L.Y.s list has stepped up for Marcu Burner against that 3rd Reichert fellow.

[truthisfreedom]

17. Tavern on the Green has the best lobster bisque...

i'm crying tears of blood thinking about it.

[NOLADEM]

20. I can't stand this woman

She had a cakewalk, but BLEW $20+ M on her already won campaign, when what she should have done is spent MUCH more on competitive races and courting favor with those she helps. BUT NO, she has to blow it spitshining her race, Party be damned.

Please Hillary, DON'T RUN.

[robcon]

22. What did she spend it on?

I live in NY, and I haven't seen any ads.

[karynnj]

24. From the NYT article, much of that was for fundraising

She sent out a huge number of snail mail fundraising letters. These are expensive and from the article it is likely that much of that cost was raising that money.

This did enable her to end the campaign with a large warchest. It also allows her to go to these SAME donors to solicit for 2008 - effectively letting her get twice as much from donors who give the max.

[ramapo]

25. That's a lot of letters

Even at $2 or $3 each

[Yupster]

26. But now she has a great list

of people who've sent her money.

Who knows. There might be a time and place to use such a list.

[karynnj]

27. My husband and I got at least 10 of them

I was just going from the article that mentioned numbers - that surprised me because they were high. (To me the most interesting thing was the ratio of money brought in vs the money spent to do it. Per the article, Hillary's numbers were not atypical.)

[oasis]

29. "Money is like fertilizer, it does no good unless you spread it around"

That's what former Dallas Cowboys owner, Clint Murchison used to say.

[AtomicKitten]

32. some take this as a sign she does not intend to run in 2008

eom