Disclosure reports show Clinton still deeply in debt
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/08/21/art.clintondebt.gi.jpg caption="Clinton is still carrying a sizeable campaign debt."](CNN) - Well over two months have passed since Hillary Clinton formally abandoned her White House bid, but newly-released Federal Election Commission reports show the New York senator has made little headway in paying off her sizeable campaign debt.
According to an FEC report filed Wednesday, Clinton's debt as of the end of July stood at just under $24 million - a decrease of only $1.2 million since the end of June. More than $13 million of that total is owed to the New York senator herself, while close to $11 million is owed to individual vendors. Clinton has suggested she is not seeking to pay back the money she owes herself.
The report also shows Clinton was only able to raise $2 million in the month of July - down from close to $3 million in June. By comparison, Barack Obama raised over $50 million for his White House bid in the same time period.
The report comes as some high-profile Clinton backers have expressed disappointment Obama has not made more of an effort to help his onetime rival retire her campaign debt.
“He has provided her with a pittance compared to what the Clintons have given Obama,” prominent Clinton backer Lynn Forrester told the Times of London. “Her debt could have been cleared within 10 days. It’s ungracious.”
Obama and Clinton have appeared at a handful of joint fundraising events, and the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has publicly urged his supporters to donate to his former primary season rival - though at a joint appearance with Clinton at a July fundraiser, the Illinois senator forgot to call on his backers to contribute to her. (He later went back on stage to correct himself.)
According to Clinton's disclosure forms filed Thursday, she owes the most ($5.2 million) to her former top advisor Mark Penn's polling/political consulting firm, Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates.
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Ms. Lynn Forrester write a check to the DNC with the specific requirement to use that money yo pay off Clinton's debt. Problem solved.
It's the unfortunate affect of running an expensive campaign well past the point that victory was possible. in the end it seemed that she was more or less just trying to prove a point. That 18 million figure all the "PUMAS" keep shouting about is based of some pretty fuzzy math.
This woman could have been the next President......
Now-about 10 million white men (you now the really bad guys who ruined the United States and possess no minority status from the federal government) will be voting for Bob Barr or McCain–presuming they're not so disgusted with the whole mess they just decide to stay home.
Hillary just needs her "18 million" voters to give about $ 1 each and she can retire her debt.
How much has PUMA raised so far...$ 50,000? Yeah, HRC has A LOT of support...yeah right.
I guess I don't understand why Obama should help pay off the debt. They do know he's still running for president, right?
Nothing against Clinton, but her people really don't seem to understand that this election cycle is about Obama now.
No kidding. I wonder why her 18 million supporters don't show their devotion to her by chipping in 2 bucks each. Maybe they’re just not feeling the love anymore.
I understand that some of the Clinton supporters are still upset, but let's be real. Clinton stayed in the race way after it was clear that she could not win this race. She loaned her campaign money with that in mind and the cards did not fall her way. It's her fault she's in debt. So why should Obama be blamed for her not being able to raise enough money to pay off that debt!?! It's her responsibility, not his. He's being nice in helping her pay any of it off at all.
Is a disgrace..
How much does she owes? I heard 12 millions, 20 millions and now 25 millions?
Senator Clinton, What is the truth?
How much do you owe?
Just like a woman, always expecting the man to pick up the check.
Poor Hilary.
Why would Hillary EXPECT donars who support Obama to give to her campaign? That is utterly ridiculous! This does not surprise me at all. Clinton expects she can just spend spend spend and the people will just 'bail her out.' Hey Hillary, how about trying to live the way the average American has to live; don't spend money you do not have in the first place!!!!
Why aren't the PUMA's paying of her debt for her? I guess lip service is the only type of support they are willing to offer.
Obama '08 – because McCain the elitist is too old and too risky
Her PUMA's should all chip in and pay it off for her.
One more thing, if Obama gives money to clinton, it would come from donations made by people who support him. If he gives money to Clinton that I gave to help Obama, I will be STEAMING MAD!! I gave money to support Obama, NOT Hillary!!! Let her borrow from Bill, he's got enough money from speeches to retire Hillary's debt.
Why in the world does anyone think that Obama should pay off Hillarys debts? That would be like asking my neighbor to pay off my Visa card...
Obama stopped being a viable candidate once we all learned about his 20 year mentorship with Rev. Wright.
Now we are stuck with a candidate that can't win the General Election.
This Lifelong Democrat will be voting for McCain.
I know I'm not alone…..if Obama thinks the party is united and just because we are registered with a history of never voting Republican he has our vote he is VERY wrong!
He needs to do something more then continue the Hate Baiting if he wants to win the White House.
I don't get. You have debt and you want someone else to pay it off?
This type of thinking is why our country is in shambles. Step up to the plate and be responsible.
Everyone wants to get bailed out!!!!!
If Hillary can't manage her own campaign finances, how could she be expected to manage the US Treasury?
I think every PUMA supporter should just split her debt since they are so in love with her when she has supported big business (NAFTA, CAFTA, etc., etc. until the election). She will pander to whomever will line her pockets.
Given that I was totally against HRC during the primaries, I would totally encourage Barack Obama to show a generous and magnanimous side by erasing her debt completely. Just so long as Bill cannot get his hands on it....
Boo hoo ... Obama won't pay off HIllary's debt. What a joke. She spent it, let her, Bill, and all of those that truly love the Clintons pay off the debt. It takes a lot of money to play in the dirty polical world. Sucks to lose, doesn't it Billary?
It's too bad so many of her supporters are only willing to back her with their shrill voices and now are vowing to vote for a pig like McCain! It's also apparent that many of her faithful supporters are simply driven by sexism ... oh my, how things have changed!
Who cares if she is deeply in debt? That is her own fault for completely mismanaging her campaign and financial situation. What she has done symbolizes the kind of judgment she would have had as President. If Hillary was too blind to see the writing on the wall after losing 11 straight contests to Barack and continued to spend money she didn't have, she deserves all the hardship.
Be a grown-up Hillary and take responsibility for your actions. No one is going to bail you out for your incompetence.
Yaawwn .....She is going to to try to pull off a coup at the convention.
Since when did the winner of a primary owe the loser anything? She would have been gracious to end the contest when it was mathematically impossible for her to win. Instead she spent tons of money campaigning – other peoples money- and then sticks up Obama for money in return for not staging a floor fight at the Convention?
I have lost a great deal of respect for her. The press makes a big deal of Obama's narrow lead, yet Hilary had a 5 state strategy to get to 270 and when Obama adopts it for the general election it is viewed as a failure? Come on, think people. He's clobbering McCain in the 'states that count' (remember that Clinton line?)
If she has 18 million supporters, why don't they bail her out? If she was so mistreated, why don't they help her over the hump? If she really has 18 million supporters they would only have to chip in one dollar each and get her out of debt. I think we all know who really has the supporters and that is Barack. It't hard to feel sorry for someone who tried to destroy the next President. I just to like Bill too, but not anymore.