WASHINGTON, April 23, 2008

Pa. Win Boosts Clinton Coffers

Campaign Raises $3 Million, Best Fundraising Night Ever

  • Play CBS Video Video Clinton Calls For Funds

    "CBS News RAW": Basking in her Pennsylvania win, Hillary Clinton asked supporters for financial assistance to compete "with an opponent who outspends [her] so massively."

  • Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., waves to supporters after winning the Pennsylvania primary in Philadelphia Tuesday, April 22, 2008. Photo

    Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., waves to supporters after winning the Pennsylvania primary in Philadelphia Tuesday, April 22, 2008.  (AP)

  • Interactive The Money Race

    See the latest campaign finance tallies from Obama and McCain.

  • Photo Essay Hillary Clinton

    A look at a life and career full of firsts.

(AP)  Turns out Hillary Rodham Clinton's victory Tuesday came with a cash prize.

In the hours after winning Pennsylvania's Democratic presidential primary, Clinton said she had raised $3 million. The campaign said it was her best overnight performance ever.

Clinton, desperate to fight on against a flush Barack Obama, could certainly use the money.

On Sunday, the campaign revealed that at the end of March it had just over $9 million in the bank and $10 million in debt. Obama had more than $40 million cash on hand at the start of April. (See the latest campaign finance reports.)

Obama has been able to tap a formidable network of donors that now total more than 1.3 million. Clinton has a smaller donor base and only recently has begun to expand it through Internet solicitation. But a greater share of Clinton's donors have contributed the maximum $2,300 to the primary allowed by law. That means that to stay within sight of Obama, she has to find new donors - not an easy task this late in a campaign.

The money disparity has been evident. Obama spent more than $11 million in broadcast television ads in Pennsylvania to Clinton's nearly $5 million. It was the most Obama had spent in any single contest so far.

Both campaigns now hurl themselves into Indiana and North Carolina, which hold primaries May 6. Both campaigns already have been spending money in the state, buying ads, setting up field operations and traveling.

But, as he has in contest after contest, Obama is outspending Clinton on television commercials in those states by a ratio of 2-1. He has been on the air in both states since March 28, spending more than $2 million so far in Indiana and nearly $2 million in North Carolina, according to TNS Media Intelligence/Campaign Media Analysis Group, a political ad tracking firm.

Clinton went up with ads April 3 in North Carolina and April 8 in Indiana.

But if Clinton plans to stay in the contest through June 3, May will be an expensive proposition.

A week after May 6, Nebraska and West Virginia hold primaries. A week later, Kentucky and Oregon have contests.

Obama's campaign wealth has allowed him to already look ahead to Oregon, which holds its primary May 20. Obama has spent more than $100,000 on television ads in Oregon, where residents have until April 29 to register as new voters. To add to the pressure, Oregon voters cast their votes by mail and ballots will begin arriving in households after May 2.

Election night successes have stimulated donors before. Clinton took in $1 million online during the 24 hours following her New Hampshire primary victory in January. She also raised more than $6 million in the three days following the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday elections, when more than 20 states were in contention.

Still, every time Clinton hits a high water mark in fundraising, Obama manages to best her. She recorded a high of $35 million in February only to see Obama hit a record of $55 million. Last month, bound to be slow after such a fundraising frenzy in February, generated a respectable $20 million for Clinton. Obama raised twice as much.

While Clinton has been outspent on ads, both have spent similar amounts on travel. In March, both posted about $5 million in travel expenses. Clinton has to foot the bill for two active surrogates - her husband, the former president, and their daughter Chelsea - have maintained breakneck schedules campaigning for her.

Obama has forced Clinton to chase him with spending, forcing her hand early by eroding her leads in public opinion polls. Clinton once led in Indiana, but Obama now holds a narrow edge in some polls. Depending on how well she can parlay Tuesday's victory into cash, some Democratic Party strategists believe Clinton may have to shift her money out of North Carolina and into Indiana in hopes of staving off two losses in one day.

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Add a Comment See all 32 Comments
by jack3213 April 23, 2008 2:38 PM EDT
Here is a reminder of why SMART people are reluctant to have the Clintons back in the White House:


President Clinton is a disbarred laywer.
Most convictions and guilty pleas by friends and associates.
Most cabinet officials to come under criminal investigation.
Most witnesses to flee country or refuse to testify.
Most witnesses to die suddenly.
First president sued for sexual harassment.
First president accused of rape.
The first time a First Lady has come under criminal investigation.
Largest criminal plea agreement in an illegal campaign contribution case.
First president to establish a legal defense fund.
First president to be held in contempt of court.
Greatest amount of illegal campaign contributions from abroad.
First president disbarred from the US Supreme Court and a State Court.


Reply to this comment
by mudrose-2009 April 23, 2008 2:41 PM EDT
You go girl. You give that Effendi Snob-oma a run for his money. Now don''t get too uppity, girl. We don''t want you winning either but if it comes to showdown with McCain, we''d at least know what we''re dealing with instead of a nobody out of now where.
Reply to this comment
by jgunther7 April 23, 2008 2:54 PM EDT
You tell um mudrose: We want our gal to get in there and kick some you know what. The type of people our gal sleazes with don''t care how vulgar and nasty she get. She can out wallow any pig around.
Reply to this comment
by samthetvcat April 23, 2008 4:44 PM EDT
How telling that all the comments so far are from Republicans, probably just like all the new donations going into Clinton''s coffers. Somebody ought to do a cross-reference of donor lists . . .

So Rush''s cross-over campaign is called ''Operation Chaos'', and he''s trying to get Hillary a win in NC? The greatest irony to that vile f-**** is that he''s forcing Dems to have to compromise to unite the party and pair up with the dream ticket . . . when the black guy and the woman pair up and kick you fools'' @sses in the general, don''t start whining about us . . . it''ll be YOUR fault for listening to that blow-hard.

Dems 08, because Repubs can''t think straight!
Reply to this comment
by mjvw2 April 23, 2008 4:45 PM EDT
"Pa. Win Boosts Clinton Coffers"

no where to go but up
Reply to this comment
by jon2012-2009 April 23, 2008 4:48 PM EDT
Posted by jack3213 at 11:38 AM : Apr 23, 2008

Usual trash from Republicans. Most witnesses to flee..., to die..., most cabinet officials to come under criminal investigation... Most compared to what? Do you have a cross-analysis of scandals that have beset Democrat and Republican administrations?

The rest of your blog sums up the tremendous waste in time and resources the Republicans'' unrelenting campaign against Bill Clinton had consumed. Was a disbarment worth years of harrasment of the Clintons and $70 million in taxpayer money? Only a Republican can say yes to that.

Anyway, that failed attempt to bring down an American president was the most reprehensible thing to have happened in American politics that a political party had ever perpetrated--next to delivering the much reviled administration of George Bush.

Reply to this comment
by samthetvcat April 23, 2008 4:53 PM EDT
You GOPigs, just imagine what parties at the White House are going to be like once Barack and Hillary join forces . . . Michael Moore, Sean Penn, Barbara Streisand, Jessie Jackson, Rosie O''Donnell, the Dixie Chicks, Madonna all laughing at how Rush Limbaugh thought he had it all figured out and then we all turned his grand plan onto its head . . .
Reply to this comment
by blackspirit3 April 23, 2008 5:08 PM EDT
SHE RAISED 3 MILL AND OWE 10 MILL SO YAW SENDING EHR MONEY TO PAY EHR BILLS AWWWW THE WELFARE STATE IS BACK
Reply to this comment
by blackspirit3 April 23, 2008 5:10 PM EDT
OBAMA IS THE DEMS NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT - NOTHING WILL OR CAN CHANGE THAT. WHAT WILL THOSE WHO VOTED FOR HILLARY DO? STAY HOME? VOTE REPUBLICAN? WHAT? BECAUSE SHE WILL NOT BE FRONT RUNNER AND SHE WILL NOT BE ON HIS TICKET. WILL YOU GIVE MCCAIN A THIRD BUSH CANDIDANCY BECAUSE HILLARY WILL NOT BE FRONT RUNNER?
Reply to this comment
by samthetvcat April 23, 2008 5:15 PM EDT
The Superdelegates are supposed to be party LEADERS . . . they need to step up to the plate and get their acts together.

Hillary Clinton has many talents, but often our greatest strengths are also our weaknesses - she will not because she CANNOT stop herself from striving for her goal of becoming President. That''s just the way she''s programmed. And the GOP see this characteristic and are exploiting it in a way that has the potential to cause we Democratic PEOPLE a lot of damage if we''re stuck with 4 more years of GOP.

This system was apparently set in place for a reason . . . they really need to take control! WTH are you all doing, man???
Reply to this comment
by samthetvcat April 23, 2008 5:16 PM EDT
PS By stuck with the GOP for 4 more years, I mean she can''t stop trying to make the argument that our front-runner Barack is unelectable, which helps the GOP win, hurts the Dems, and helps her run in 2012 . . .
Reply to this comment
by craigh9 April 23, 2008 6:27 PM EDT
This is great news - to her creditors
Reply to this comment
by craigh9 April 23, 2008 6:28 PM EDT
Only Hillary can take an expected win by 22% - turn it into a 10% win, and claim a HUGE victory. Last night changes nothing - she is still too far behind in pledged delegates and the tightening of the popular vote will reverse after North Carolina on 5/6.
Pennsylvania is overwhelmingly White, Older, Blue Collar, and Catholic - everything was set up for her to hit a grand slam homerun - she only managed a single with 1 RBI.
The only difficult piece of all of this is those that support Hillary will be unbearable for 2 weeks, then they will be compeltely deflated on 5/6/08.
Enjoy it while you can - hard times are coming for the Clinton campaign.
Reply to this comment
by metroduck75 April 23, 2008 6:29 PM EDT
His wife is freaking Loud and Annoying.

I, for one, am glad that she shuts up for polarizing the Black Community.
Reply to this comment
by metroduck75 April 23, 2008 6:31 PM EDT
Obama''s Secret Weapon ---- Elites in the News Media.

Yes, Obama is the 2nd coming.

Yes, Obama can walk on water.

Yes, Obama cannot stand straight in a debate when asked Tough Questions....

Well, at least he''s got plenty of out-of-touch Wealthy Liberal friends by his side.
Reply to this comment
by jonswift2 April 23, 2008 6:38 PM EDT
I just received an e-mail from the Obama campaign asking for a donation. I was tempted to give $50. Then I looked at the her smile and decided to give $250. Hillary go away. You can''t talk your way in. You can''t buy your way in. If having over 100 superdelegates and the mantle of inevitability that came of being Bill''s co-president wouldn''t do it. Nothing will work. Hillary Clinton won''t you please go now.

For anyone who wants a laugh read Maureen Dowd''s column today in the NY Times.
Reply to this comment
by blackspirit3 April 23, 2008 6:59 PM EDT
HILLARY ASKING FOR WELFARE? SHE OWES 10 MILL AND SHE WANTS BLUE COLLAR HARD WORKING POOR FOLKS TO PROVIDE HER WELFARE TO PAY HER DEBT - WHO WILL PAY THE DEBT OF THE BLUE COLLAR WORKER?
Reply to this comment
by mjvw2 April 23, 2008 7:19 PM EDT
in the interest of fairness we''ve created a primary system no one can win
Reply to this comment
by obamasgranny April 23, 2008 8:18 PM EDT
Barack got be-atch slapped!! Better than Michelle usually does!! Maybe if he begs Michelle she will let him run for president of the local PTA?!!
Reply to this comment
by irliberal April 23, 2008 8:22 PM EDT
GO HILLARY WOOHOO!
Reply to this comment
by sharncedar April 23, 2008 8:43 PM EDT
Great, Hillary reports she raised $3 million. Was that before or after she was a POW in the Bosnian war?

C''mon people don''t be so gullible.
Reply to this comment
by sharncedar April 23, 2008 8:47 PM EDT
Obama is just a very terrible and inexperienced candidate. I notice in his speeches he doesn''t close well, he doesn''t ask people for their vote, he doesn''t make that last little connection that gets them to commit to actually go out and vote. He is extremely inexperienced at this and it shows. Obviously the Clintons set him up to take away any white male candidate''s chances, they had calculated it all out, Obama would stop any white males using the black vote, and Hillary would triangulate with her hateful old women to win. They never expected their "boy" to get uppity and try to win the nomination outright. Things have changed on the ol'' Democratic plantation, I guess.
Reply to this comment
by smashwl7 April 23, 2008 9:40 PM EDT
I just sent 500.00 today for Obama, I am sending Hillary a copy of one of her bills that was posted by U.C. Davis she owes them 35,000.00 back in January of this year. You go Hillary take that money from those people who think you can win.
Reply to this comment
by smashwl7 April 23, 2008 9:43 PM EDT
I just sent 500.00 today for Obama, I am sending Hillary a copy of one of her bills that was posted by U.C. Davis she owes them 35,000.00 back in January of this year. You go Hillary take that money from those people who think you can win.
Reply to this comment
by lordmi April 23, 2008 9:48 PM EDT
Looks like we do not have financial crises, when Idiots are collecting donations for Monster''s millions.
Go ahead and be fooled by Clintons again and again.
We will go in future.
And there is NO PLACE fo Clintons in it - too Dirty for White House.
Reply to this comment
by lordmi April 23, 2008 9:54 PM EDT
Hey, how can she even pretend to operate the Country , when she can NOT operate small finances, that she even did not earn, but begged form poor people???
Shame on You , Monster Clintons!
Reply to this comment
by hawksprings April 23, 2008 10:00 PM EDT

Just think how many children all those millions of dollars could help.
Instead, it goes to finance another Clinton Ego Trip.
This one for the missus.

Just go home Hillary.
Go home and bake cookies.
Reply to this comment
by blkpresident April 23, 2008 10:34 PM EDT
Raise all the money you want lil'' woman; the presidency isn''t for sale. The "Rocky Balboa" show is now over lil'' missy. Welcome to North Carolina, whre you will get a dose of reality--a lil'' insignifigant footnote beside Geraldine Ferraro. Hope you didn''t throw your apron away missy. Somewhere in NY a kitchen oven needs cleaning.
Reply to this comment
by likeitis5050 April 23, 2008 11:46 PM EDT
She''s workin'' it! All''s fair and she has every right to stick with it until she gets the boot. Obama needs to worry. He''s not the golden child the party and media made him think he was...and his gold isn''t all that great after all. Love this race!!!
Reply to this comment
by rowdytexan2 April 24, 2008 11:37 AM EDT
HILLARY ASKING FOR WELFARE? SHE OWES 10 MILL AND SHE WANTS BLUE COLLAR HARD WORKING POOR FOLKS TO PROVIDE HER WELFARE TO PAY HER DEBT - WHO WILL PAY THE DEBT OF THE BLUE COLLAR WORKER?


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Posted by BLACKSPIRIT3 at 03:59 PM : Apr 23, 2008

I''d say the $120 million Obama has wasted on his campaign would pay off a lot of homes for blue collar workers!

It would do him and his special interest FAMILIES good to help somebody else out!
Reply to this comment
by boatdocster April 24, 2008 2:02 PM EDT
An "alleged" 10 million in 24 hours will now allow Hillary to pay off her very large, overdue debts.

Universities and small businesses are sending unpaid Hillary for President debts to collection agencies because she will not pay her bills!!!
Reply to this comment
by termtex01 April 25, 2008 9:31 PM EDT
"In the hours after winning Pennsylvania''s Democratic presidential primary, Clinton said she had raised $3 million. The campaign said it was her best overnight performance ever."

I''m sorry, but this just sound soooo wrong on many levels. LMAO
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