Hillary Campaign "In The Red"

[Why Syzygy]

Hillary Campaign "In The Red"
By Greg Sargent - March 21, 2008, 3:49PM

The latest FEC reports appear to suggest that the Hillary campaign may be in the red:

Despite a strong month of fund-raising in February in which she brought in $35 million, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton finished the month essentially in the red, once her campaign’s outstanding debts are factored in, as well as her personal loan, according to filings submitted late last night to the Federal Election Commission.

After spending about $31 million in her efforts to keep up with Senator Barack Obama, Mrs. Clinton finished February with more than $33 million in cash on hand, but $21.5 million of that is earmarked exclusively for the general election, leaving her with $11.7 million for the primary.

Mrs. Clinton, however, loaned her campaign $5 million earlier this year and she listed $8.7 million in debts to various vendors, making clear why she has not yet paid herself back from her loan.

It should be noted, however, that Hillary isn't obliged to repay the $5 million debt to herself. Nonetheless, even factoring in that, once you subtract the other debts her cash on hand number would be in the neighborhood of $3 million.

By contrast, Obama has over $30 million on hand for the primary.

Here's where this really hurts: With the super-delegates. The Clintons' fundraising prowess has been one of the factors convincing the super-dels that this race isn't over and that they should wait out the contest. Revelations like this one could make it a good deal tougher to make this case.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/

[Why Syzygy]

1. She doesn't even have enough to pay her bills.

Is she going to chip in more millions?

[AllentownJake]

2. That stunt only works once

I think that will only work once for her and she knows it. If she chips in her own money at this time after the "record" month in February it shows how weak she is to the superdelegates. It also shows how she can't managage a campaign. So you can throw all the electability arguments to the walls about her if you can't raise and spend money effectively you can't compete.

I think she can get the pity donations once but alot of those people (not all so flame away) are going to be asking what the heck did she do with the 35 million from last month.

She doesn't want to draw attention to this and if she gives another 5 million that is all she is going to do.

[cooolandrew]

5. HRC will responsibly lift the country out of economic dire straits, erm maybe..

[goclark]

3. With the Economy a major issue ~~~

How come she has so much trouble with her Campaign account?

I don't get it.

She has so much experience. :crazy:

[roguevalley]

7. in the past, she lived and operated like a oriental potentate. first

class and perks account for a big bite of it.

[rainbow4321]

13. She lived off taxpayers' dime for most of her adult life

and now she is living off of donors' dimes. Bottomless budget.


Someone needs to give her a budget WITH a bottom to it. Which is probably what she is facing sooner rather than later given what her campaign finance/debt/IOU's list show.

Imagine being a huge HRC donor and seeing where your money is going and what she/you are actually getting (or in this case, NOT getting) for that money.

[NJSecularist]

4. What is she going to do in the general election when she uses private financing?

What does that say about her campaign when she is in the red in the primaries?

[LordJFT]

6. why is she earmarking money for the ge when she won't be in it?

[HooptieWagon]

10. Donor limit is $2300 for the primary

and another $2300 for the GE. The funds earmarked for the GE are those donations in excess of the $2300 primary limit, and can only be used for the GE (in the unlikely event she is nominated). My explanation is a little clumsy, I hope it can be understood. As an example, if I was to donate $4000 to the HRC campaign, $2300 may be used for the primary, the remaining $1700 can only be used in the GE.

[Why Syzygy]

14. That also shows that a lot of her donations

were over the $2300 meaning she is not profiting from the small donors as is Obama.
She has a few rich patrons. The people can't stand her.

[FrenchieCat]

12. She has no choice......

These are just donors that have given as much as they could for the primary cycle. Pretty soon, if not already, they will be tapped out for the GE.....and Hillary will have to take public financing....cause I"m not giving her one thin dime!

[slinkerwink]

8. if she can't run her own campaign, how can she run the White House?

[Bigleaf]

9. Well, I just sent another $100............to Obama. 55? 60? 65 million this month?

[krkaufman]

11. I thought maybe the article was going to be about her campaign tactics ...

... being "in the red", as in Republican-style or effectively campaigning for McCain.

[Why Syzygy]

15. Lol! nt