HRC: Fat cats to the rescue? (Updated)
Bill Clinton's decision to exploit a "soft money" loophole in campaign finance laws for the 1996 election opened the door to an era of six-figure mega-contributions, and linked him to a rogue's gallery of donors and bundlers like Johnny Chung and Charlie Trie.
Now, with Hillary in trouble, history seems to be repeating itself.
Big donors are planning to use this decade's big loophole, so-called "527" groups, to put together big-bucks contributions and try to help her in Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania. The Atlantic:
"They're canvassing Clinton donors for pledges of up to $100,000 in the hope of raising at least $10M by the end of next week....By law, the 527 cannot coordinate its activities with the Clinton campaign, although at least one major Clinton donor with direct ties to the campaign said last night that the effort was an open secret among donors."
Early in the race, Obama's position was that none of the candidates should accept help from outside groups. But he has benefited from some outside labor spending -- particularly in Nevada -- and may get more now that the campaign has reached DefCon 1 status.
Update: ABC has more details on the new Clinton group. To be called American Leadership Project. To slam Obama in Ohio on talker vs. doer theme, targeting white voters. ABC also has names of the top operatives in the effort -- after the jump -- but the moneymen are still murky.
From ABC:
"A Democrat who was briefed on the project said that Pennsylvania attorney William A. K. Titelman is leading the effort to solicit money. Titleman, who raised money for Gov. Bill Richardson's presidential campaign, has not contributed money to Clinton. He did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment…A Clinton spokesman said he knew nothing about the 527."
"ALP is being run by the following people:
"Jason Kinney, of California Strategies, LLC, a former senior communications advisor and chief speechwriter to former California Governor Gray Davis;
"Mattis Goldman of SeaChange Media, a former ad maker for Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, who works for . (Samples of Goldman's ads can be seen HERE).
"Erick Mullen, a political consultant with lots of Capitol Hill experience who has worked for the presidential campaigns of Gen. Wesley Clark (Ret.) in 2004 and former Sen. Bill Bradley, D-NJ, in 2000, as well as the successful 1998 Senate run of Chuck Schumer. (Mullen's website is HERE).
"Paul Rivera, founder of Britton Marcy, LLC, senior political adviser for the 2004 Kerry-Edwards campaign, and a Clinton- Gore White House advance staffer from 1994 through 1999.
"Roger Salazar of Acosta|Salazar LLC, who worked in the Clinton White House from 1994-1999 as assistant press secretary, national spokesman for then-Sen. John Edwards' 2004 presidential race, national spokesman and deputy press secretary the 2000 presidential campaign of Al Gore, and press secretary for Gov. Davis' successful re-election.
"The law firm representing the group is Remcho, Johansen & Purcell, LLC. Accounting and bookkeeping is being handled by Nancy Warren of the San Francisco-based Warren & Associates LLC."
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Comments (4)
Isn't Defcon 5 a good thing, what the military is set on during peaceful times? Defcon 1 is uber alert, there's a catastrophe about to occur. Then again, I'm basing this from years ago.
Harry turns out to be absolutely correct. I meant high-emergency status, which is apparently Defcon 1. So I've changed the text accordingly.... Thanks!
On the "talker vs. doer" theme - How about "organization vs. mismanagement!"
Where is her solution for her campaign mess? I don't see any "doer" going on here and she had every advantage going into this thing.
In addition, I must say that I like the way Obama has handled himself and I trust his mindset vs. McCain's mindset.
That is what a leader needs to do. He's got it.
On McCain. How about "War-monger vs. Hope-monger theme".