Bloomberg.com: Politics

Bloomberg.com: Politics: "Hillary Clinton Helps Obama, Democrats Raise Money in Manhattan

By Jonathan D. Salant and Julianna Goldman

Hillary Clinton Helps Obama, Democrats Raise Money in Manhattan

By Jonathan D. Salant and Julianna Goldman

July 10 (Bloomberg) -- Hillary Clinton is helping Barack Obama fill the coffers of his presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee, raising about $4.1 million at one event in New York last night.

Clinton, who withdrew from the presidential race last month, flew with Obama aboard his campaign plane yesterday from Washington to New York. The two senators chatted briefly before take-off. They did not sit together and left the plane in separate motorcades.

About 125 donors were asked to give $33,100 apiece for an event last night at the Loews Regency Hotel. This morning donors will give up to $23,000 each for a breakfast at the New York Hilton.

Obama, 46, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has had at least two fundraisers every day this week. The events followed his decision June 19 to decline $84.1 million in taxpayer funds for the general election and become the first major-party nominee to privately fund his campaign since the 1974 Watergate- era law provided public financing to presidential candidates.

``Early money matters,'' said former Democratic National Committee Chairman Steve Grossman, who raised money for Clinton and is now on Obama's national finance team. ``The month of July cannot be a dead month. The month of July has to be a huge month.''

Clinton Pitch

While Obama had been expected to ask supporters at the Grand Hyatt to help Clinton retire her debt, he concluded his remarks after 25 minutes without saying anything about it. Just as reporters began to ask his staff why he didn't mention Clinton's debt, Obama interrupted the applause and said: ``Hold on a second guys, I was getting all carried away. I've got one more thing that is important.''

``Senator Clinton still has some debt and I could have had some debt if I hadn't won so I know the drill,'' Obama told the 1,000-person crowd as he pointed out contribution forms that were placed on people's chairs. Helping Clinton ``is part of the process of making sure that we are unified moving forward,'' he said.

From there, he joined New York Senator Clinton at the Loews Regency for the $33,100-per-person dinner. The two former rivals gave brief remarks stressing unity and the importance of defeating Republican Senator John McCain in the November election.

`Bunch of Lumps'

``It was one of the great honors of my life to campaign along side her, to debate her,'' Obama said of Clinton. ``She left a bunch of lumps on my head in debates and was just extraordinary as a campaigner.''

``The necessity to have a unified Democratic party that does everything we possibly can between now and November to elect Senator Obama president is, I hope, self evident,'' Clinton, who introduced Obama, said.

Obama, an Illinois senator, thanked Clinton for making him a ``better candidate'' and said he was standing there with ``great humility.''

``To my old friends and my new friends thank you for being here,'' Obama told the crowd that included Obama supporters and those who had supported Clinton during the primaries. ``With just half a wing this bird can't fly so I'm going to need all of you to be passionate and energized.''

Patricof, Jordan

Attending the Regency event were venture capitalist Alan Patricof and Vernon Jordan, senior managing director at New York-based Lazard Capital Markets Ltd.

Obama had solo events at the Grand Hyatt New York yesterday evening with supporters who raised $50,000, and then one with donors who gave from $1,000 to $4,600. There he also asked supporters to help Clinton retire her debt.

Today, he and Clinton plan to have breakfast at a women's event at the New York Hilton, where tickets range from $250 to $2,300 and the hosts were asked to raise as much as $23,000 apiece.

A private reception to raise money to help retire Clinton's campaign debt was scrapped because Senate votes kept Obama in Washington longer than expected, spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

Clinton reported $22.5 million in debts as of May 30, including $10.3 million in personal loans. She has until the August 25-28 Democratic National Convention in Denver to pay herself back, or else her loan will be treated as a contribution to her campaign.

To contact the reporters on this story: Jonathan D. Salant in Washington at jsalant@bloomberg.net; Julianna Goldman in New York at jgoldman6@bloomberg.net.
Last Updated: July 10, 2008 00:01 EDT