OF2-04/02/2007 7:25 AM PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES RAISE MORE MONEY THAN EVER.
Senator Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign has already raised a record 36 million dollars, thanks largely to Bill.
SOT:
Gregg Birnbaum, political blogger: "When it comes to raising money, Bill Clinton is ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-ching."
Charlotte Krupp, Clinton campaign donor: "He's a big attraction for Hillary. It's a good thing she didn't get rid of him."
Announcing Hillary Clinton's presidential war chest is intended at least in part to scare off some of the competition.
SOT - Jim Vanderhei / Politico.com
"If that gap between Clinton and Obama is huge, everyone will say, 'Look, she's such a commanding presence, such a commanding campaigner that he's not going to be able to catch her.'"
Jim Vanderhei of The Politico.com. e says it gives the rest of the field something to think about, too.
SOT - Jim Vanderhei
"What people look for is, 'Are you raising enough to be on pace to raise anywhere from say 70 to 100 million by the end of the year, which is sort of the cost of doing business this year, and can you defy expectations?'"
Senator Clinton has the money lead, partly because of events with Dollar Bill, says Gregg Birnbaum of Just Hillary.com.
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Gregg Birnbaum: "He can do these one after another, lunch and dinner, lunch and dinner over and over throughout the week, and he does these across the country."
Spin Class Donors: Q - "Was it worth the price?" A - "absolutely." Q - "why?" A - "To be one on one with the former president with his reputation. It was unbelievable."
Even when Mr. Clinton is not there, his effect is felt, says Democratic strategist Jamal Simmons.
SOT - Jamal Simmons / Democratic strategist
"There has been some grumbling out in the country that the fund-raising has been a little heavy handed by the Clintons. You can't find a Democrat who has worked in government in the last ten years who is not a former Clinton administration appointee, so a lot of people feel an extraordinary amount of loyalty to him."
But it will take more than winning the money sweepstakes, says CBS News Political Director Molly Levinson.
SOT - Molly Levinson / CBS News Political Director
"It definitely puts her in a good position, but it doesn't seal the deal. Every quarter could have a new winner, and this doesn't seal anything. The election is a long way away."
The Osgood File. Charles Osgood on the CBS Radio Network. |
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