Could Money Woes Eventually Force Clinton from the Race?

[gateley]

Andrew Romano

When it comes to money and politics, looks can be deceiving. Take February's presidential fundraising receipts, for example. After losing 11 straight primary contests to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton rebounded--in the headlines, at least--with the Feb. 29 announcement that she had racked up $34.5 million in contributions for the month, her all-time record.

The only problem? Candidates aren't actually required to disclose full fundraising information until the 20th of the following month. Fortunately for Clinton, not many folks took notice when she finally filed with the FEC on March 20. If they had, they would've discovered that only a third of Clinton's February cash-on-hand, $11.7 million, was designated for the primary campaign; the remaining $20-plus million was all general election funds, and would only be available if she won the Democratic nomination.

What's more, they would've also learned that Clinton's campaign had closed the month with $8.7 million in outstanding debt--leaving her at the start of March with a measly $3 million in free dough for the battles ahead.

snip

The larger context here is the fate of Clinton's bid. As the pundits love to say, only two things could convince the tenacious candidate to drop out: Bill or an empty bank vault. Could the formerly inevitable Clinton actually run out of cash? At this point, it's clear, at least, that she has no chance of catching Obama in the money chase.

much more..... http://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/04/03/could-money-woes-eventually-force-clinton-from-the-race.aspx

[loveangelc]

1. lol one hopes.

[cliffordu]

2. I can only hope.

[Bright Eyes]

3. I'm sure she can borrow money from her pals at Wal-Mart

And her BFF Murdoch.

[Purveyor]

4. "remaining $20-plus mil was all general election funds, only available if she wins the nomination"

OK, so if she doesn't win the nomination, where will that $20m go?

[DJ13]

5. leaving her at the start of March with a measly $3 million

That wont even cover expenses for Pennsylvania if she buys enough TV time to keep Obama from pulling ahead.

She's sunk.

[Duke Newcombe]

6. Nope...

She'll beg, borrow, and steal, and spend herself into a deficit for this. The motivation is too strong.

Duke

[gateley]

8. Here's a comment from the article I linked to:

The Clintons will never have money problems. They are heavily tied in to the Corporations via Bill's links while he was President. It may be illegal but money will come.Nothing except a rejection by the Super Delegates will cause Hillary Clinton to drop out.Too many powerful Interests have invested in her campaign and require their Pay Back when she and Bill are in the White House. Americans are in for a term worse than Bill, if whe wins.

[gristy]

7. Even if she had $0, to say that "Money Woes Eventually Force Clinton from the Race"

would certainly not be correct. One can campaign for office with no money - at least in the sense that no one forces you out because of a lack of money. But if you don't have the votes, you won't win, and Clinton doesn't have the votes. That will be the deciding factor that forces Clinton from the race, not her lack of money.

[Boz]

9. She will never run out of money, she will continue to deficit spend, and funnel "loans" through her

Personal accounts