Clinton Camp Touts New Fund-raising Numbers

By: Fernando Suarez
Topics: Hillary Clinton

(CBS)

From CBS News' Fernando Suarez:

ARLINGTON, VA. -- Hillary Clinton's campaign announced that it has raised $7.5 million since Super Tuesday - keeping pace, at least for this week, with Barack Obama's campaign.

Just as word about Clinton's money woes was reaching fever pitch - loaning her campaign $5 million of her own money, being outraised $32 million to $14 million in January by Obama - Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe excitedly told her donors today's news.

McAuliffe's announcement came hours after Obama's folks touted his $7.2 million raised since Super Tuesday.

Meantime, Clinton kept around 2,000 students, teachers and supporters waiting over 2 hours at a her rally in Arlington, Virginia this afternoon.

Anxious students hoping to make it home before dinner were getting restless as they sat and waited for Clinton to show. The campaign had no answers for reporters or for those waiting other than she was "running a little late."

The event, which was scheduled to start at 3:15 p.m. did not start until almost 4:30. But students, supporters and press were required to be inside the gymnasium at Washington and Lee High School (where the event was taking place) by 2:15. Food and water were not available.

Prior the start of the event, long lines of people spilled out into the parking lot as federal agents manned magnetometers. In addition, each person was wanded down by security.

Dismissal time at the school is 2:30 p.m. and many of the students take the school bus home. The high school principal took the stage to tell students that the buses would wait until the event was over and that Clinton had offered to pay for the buses to wait.

As Clinton took the stage she said simply, "I am so happy to be here. I apologize. The schedule got a little behind."

Clinton went after John McCain saying his candidacy offers "more of the same," referring to President Bush's policies. She acknowledged that she has "the greatest respect for" McCain but added he offers little when it comes to fixing the state of the economy.

"McCain has said he doesn't know much about the economy…I offer a very different vision about what we can be in America. We can be whatever we set our minds to be," Clinton said.

She added she thinks she is the best candidate to stand opposite McCain, who is now poised to be the Republican nominee following Mitt Romney's departure from the race today.

Clinton and the traveling press are expected at an event in Seattle, Washington later tonight. But the nearly 6 hour flight will make it difficult to be on time for the scheduled 8:30 p.m. Pacific Time event.

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by murel1 February 8, 2008 6:06 AM EST: It is amazing what OBAMA does with the money that has been "donated" in his campaign. Infomercials providing "no" information every 15 minutes. I clearly think that his money management skills are in question in my mind. His inexperience is really showing.; Reply to this comment


by jerryz7936 February 8, 2008 5:01 AM EST: Clinton is desperate.

Remember people of the Clinton campaign.

She borrowed 5 mil. Where do you think she will get her "borrowed" money back from? From the people that are putting money into her campaign now. I''m sure she is charging interest too! She won''t lose anything once she loses the nomination.

Wake up people. She wants five debates right now. Candidates that wants more debates are usually the ones losing. They had 18 already! How many times we have to listen to the same issues! Every debate she won''t admit she voted for the war. She dances around the issue,

The next seven primaries are Obama''s. The Clinton''s even admitted it. They know Obama will continue his momentum. Their hoping Texas and Ohio will help them. With the next seven primaries going to Obama, things can change for him in March when Texas and Ohio primaries come.. Clinton''s are taking your money knowing they are not going to make it.

Talk about their main guys taking no checks for the month. Do you know their top guy makes 5 mil a year? Sure he''s hurting.

Wake up people!!!!!!; Reply to this comment


by grahampoor February 8, 2008 4:04 AM EST: What did Hillary Clinton do to earn $5,000,000 in cash?
This makes a mockery of McCaine-Feingold.
If the money comes from a book deal she has nothing to hide. She needs
to show me as a Democratic voter that this will not be an issue in the
fall that will cause her to lose to McCaine.; Reply to this comment


by raffia66 February 8, 2008 3:02 AM EST: No food provided huh? What does the Obama campaign provide, Coke & Oprah?

You call yourself a journalist?; Reply to this comment


by raffia66 February 8, 2008 2:58 AM EST: Obama will need all the money he can get to hire more spin doctors - because he can never win on substance.

Obama knows he is running on borrowed time. Like another emperor-with-no-clothes wannabe who you%u2019d want to have a beer with, the more people get a chance to see him side by side with Hillary in the debates, the more they will eventually see him for the scared, little, vacuous icon that he is.

That is why he was too chicken to accept her challenges of one debate per week. What does he want to hide?

Trying to convince people to believe that he is the %u2018Jesus Christ from Chicago via Hawaii%u2019 in rallies with the same speech he%u2019s been giving since the DNC convention 4 years ago, is a lot safer than having to answer real questions before 70 million viewers each week. Why doesn%u2019t he let everyone look under the hood & kick the tire, like he often proclaims?

Obama is like fast food. Content-less, leaving you hungry and malnourished in the end; Reply to this comment


by sueann702 February 8, 2008 1:08 AM EST: Not only is America at stake, the whole world is at stake. The World wants Hillary to win.
We should follow the World and vote Hillary in 08.; Reply to this comment


by joanne111111 February 7, 2008 11:32 PM EST: Thank you Darren! I''m glad I was able to get a more complete and accurate portrayal based on your comment. The "news reporting" that has gone on as of late has been a real travesty.; Reply to this comment


by vickiigou February 7, 2008 9:31 PM EST: Old politics it''s all about the money..Obama is doing good for a guy that wants change...Take the blinders off people before it''s too late...it''s all talk...change starts with everyone!!!; Reply to this comment


by scclemons February 7, 2008 9:11 PM EST: Thanks for your good post. This still leaves Hillary down $17.7 million down on a net basis when compared to Obama for 2008.

I write about it here:
http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/002823.php; Reply to this comment


by scclemons February 7, 2008 9:10 PM EST: Thanks for your good post. This still leaves Hillary down $17.7 million down on a net basis when compared to Obama for 2008.

I write about it here:
http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/002823.php; Reply to this comment