Family feud:Hillary urges Dean to raise campaign funds
BY GLENN THRUSH
Newsday Washington Bureau
September 28, 2006
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton took a backhanded swipe at Democratic National Committee boss Howard Dean Thursday, saying Dean's long-term party-building efforts should take a back seat to fundraising for the midterm elections.
"The [Republican National Committee] is pouring tens of millions of dollars into races and we're not matching that," Clinton said during a DNC fundraiser in Washington.
"We're doing investments, you know, in ground and other efforts which will be very beneficial, but the RNC has about $60 million to $70 million waiting to drop on our candidates," she added.
To boost Democratic coffers, Bill and Hillary Clinton will host a million-dollar fundraiser for party committees on Oct. 4 at their Washington mansion, Whitehaven.
The senator also plans events in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida, and will host an event for Virginia senatorial hopeful Jim Webb.
Many Democrats, including Clinton advisers, are frustrated with Dean's "50-state strategy," which accentuates grassroots organizing at the expense of election-specific cash-grabbing.
The Democrats' Senate and House fundraising committees, led by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Rahm Emmanuel (D-Ill.), have had banner years, while Dean's DNC has lagged with about $11 million on hand compared to the RNC's $39 million in the bank.
Despite defining herself as "the most paranoid campaigner you can find," Clinton is confident she'll beat underdog GOP challenger John Spencer this fall, freeing her to travel.
"Senator Clinton, the Arkansas traveler, is on the road once again campaigning for president," said Spencer spokesman Rob Ryan. |
