Observer » Fund-Raising

Hillary’s “Through the Roof” Third Quarter

Jason Horowitz — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 14:40:58 -0400

Hillary Clinton is reporting a huge number, $27 million raised in the third quarter - but has not yet divulged how much of that is primary money, which is the key measurment in gauging where she stacks up against Obama, who announced the raising od nearly $20 million in primary money yesterday. If she outraised him, that could be a major setback to any momentum the slumping Obama hoped to get out of this filing.

UPDATE: Clinton outraised Obama in primary dollars, $22 million to his $19 million.

Here's the statement from Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle:

Our fundraising is through the roof! Hillary wanted you to be the first to know that this was our best quarter yet. More than 100,000 new donors. A total of $27 million raised -- substantially more than any other candidate in the race. This is all thanks to you and your hard work. You -- and over a million supporters like you -- are working together with Hillary to create real momentum that will take us to victory. This is the moment when you showed that America is ready for change and that you are ready to make history. This is the moment when your dedication defied the skeptics. The early primaries and caucuses are coming up fast. We're going to need your help a lot in the next few months. Later this week, Hillary will write to tell you about how you can get involved in our new field program and talk to voters directly on behalf of the campaign. But for now, I want to thank you again for all your incredible hard work and dedication. Hillary wanted to thank you, too -- but I'll let her speak for herself.

Hillary’s Carrot and Chip Approach

Jason Horowitz — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:39:28 -0400

Here's Hillary Clinton's end-of-quarter fund-raising pitch, which makes unabashed use of Bill Clinton -- an evening with whom has been offered as a prize to a few lucky contributors.

In the letter Hillary says the results will be used by the media and her opponents to determine her grassroots support.

From the email:

I hear you might be watching a debate with Bill -- can I ask you a
favor?

Bill mentioned "a big bowl of chips" in the email he sent you Tuesday.
If you are one of the three people who get the chance to join him, can
you make sure he eats carrots, not chips?

I know I can rely on you for this -- because you've been there for me
this entire campaign. I've relied on you and more than a million of your
fellow supporters, and you've never let me down.

Today, I need your help at a critical moment in the campaign. We're just
a few days away from the end-of-quarter deadline, when we have to report
the fundraising numbers that will set the tone for the final crucial
months. The media and our opponents will use the numbers we report to
determine the strength of our grassroots support -- help our campaign
today and we can beat our goal.

And if you enter now, you could be one of three supporters invited to
watch an upcoming debate with Bill.

Help me win today. Make a contribution:

[link]

The decisions we make about our campaign's strategy over the next few
weeks will depend on the strength of your support. If you make a
contribution today, before Sunday's FEC deadline, those decisions will
be easier -- because we will know we have the resources to win.

We're making history, you and I. Together we can change course in Iraq,
restore America's standing in the world, achieve energy independence,
and make sure every single American has quality, affordable health care.

So help me make history by making a contribution before Sunday's key FEC
deadline. If you enter today, you might be bringing a guest to watch an
upcoming debate with Bill.

Help our campaign before Sunday's FEC deadline. Make a contribution:

[link]

Chips or carrots aside, I know Bill is really excited about the chance
to watch a debate with you. It's one of his favorite things to do: sit
down with friends and talk politics. So I hope you'll enter today for
the chance to bring a guest to watch an upcoming debate with him.

He's looking forward to it -- and I hope you are, too. Not just because
it will be a great experience, but because you know just what your
support means to me and to my campaign.

The end-of-quarter deadline is just a few days away, so there's no
better time to give. I need your help now -- before midnight on
September 30 -- more than ever.

The FEC deadline is just a few days away. Make a contribution:

[link]

Thank you so much for everything you do to help my campaign.

Sincerely,

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Bloomberg on a Distant Sheldon Silver

Azi Paybarah — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 11:39:18 -0400

Congressman Joe Crowley of Queens and the Bronx yesterday became the latest official to endorse Michael Bloomberg’s congestion pricing plan. It was announced at a press conference in Grand Central Terminal, where I asked the mayor about another politician whose support he really needs: Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who attended a fund-raiser while Bloomberg was testifying on the subject at an Assembly hearing.

For the record, Bloomberg said he didn't see anything significant in the timing, noting that, unlike him, most politicians have to raise money all the time.

As Bloomberg Testifies, Silver Raises

Azi Paybarah — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 16:50:54 -0400

More than an hour into Mike Bloomberg's testimony about congestion pricing at an Assembly hearing today, someone reminded me that the most important Assembly member is at Tavern on the Green, raising funds.

Talk about timing.

Rudy’s Second-Quarter Push

Jason Horowitz — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 16:37:36 -0400

Rudy Giuliani is looking to boost his second-quarter fund-raising numbers with a dinner for donors at the Sheraton on June 20, according to a one of the campaign's top contributors.

The minimum ticket for the event is $1,000, and Rudy's key backers are pitching the event as a "great time to impact Rudy's 2^nd quarter results!" The dinner is being organized by Paul Singer, the campaign's eastern regional Finance Chairman and Ken Langone, the New York City finance chair, according to an invitation passed on by the supporter.

Giuliani's campaign often argued that it got a late start in the first fund-raising quarter, in which he reported nearly $15 million in donations, and that the second would be more impressive.

Silver’s Last-Chance Fund-Raiser

Azi Paybarah — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 14:17:51 -0400

If you're free Friday afternoon -- and you have $25,000 to spend -- you can drop by Tavern on the Green and sponsor a table at Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's fund-raiser.

The invitation, sent along by a reader, is sure to draw anybody with a rooting interest in what gets passed in Albany. And the timing of the event is perfect, coming just as session is winding down and deals are likely to be made on all of the legislature's unresolved proposals on issues including congestion pricing, gay marriage, legislative and judicial pay raises, campaign finance reform and non-partisan redistricting. To name a few.

De Blasio’s Super Good Friends

Azi Paybarah — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 11:31:10 -0400

Here’s an invitation to a fund-raiser later this week for Council member Bill de Blasio at the Manhattan home of investment banker Jeffrey Sachs.

De Blasio, along with the majority of the Council, will be term-limited out of office in 2009. He was a key figure in Hillary Clinton's first Senate campaign, has White House experience and has strong ties to labor. Though he’s been talked about as candidate for Brooklyn borough president, he still hasn’t made it clear, officially, what he’ll be running for.

Extra credit for the name given to de Blasio’s top fund-raisers: "Super Good Friends."

Comrie’s Fund-Raiser

Azi Paybarah — Wed, 30 May 2007 13:29:29 -0400

Tonight, Leroy Comrie will have a fund-raiser hosted by Christine Quinn and organized by the Seto Group.

Comrie has been talked about as a candidate for Queens Borough President, a position more than one current City Council member is interested in. So this seems to suggest that Quinn’s choice in that race, however unofficially, has been made.

And in case you follow this sort of thing, the Seto Group is the same one getting John Liu’s citywide campaign (for something) off the ground.

Gioia’s Busy Fund-Raising Season

Azi Paybarah — Tue, 29 May 2007 14:29:22 -0400

I got this invite this morning for Eric Gioia’s June 1st fund-raiser. In an email about it, he also has a “save the date” for a "second annual Beach Party” on July 11 on the Queens waterfront.

It's almost like he's planning to run for higher office or something.

Cuomo Abides by Spitzer Fund-Raising Limits, Mostly

Azi Paybarah — Wed, 23 May 2007 13:30:42 -0400

Here’s a fund-raising letter for Andrew Cuomo’s June 13 event at the swanky Le Parker Meridian Hotel. What’s interesting isn’t the fact that he’s fund-raising (who in Albany isn’t?) but rather the disclaimer at the bottom.

It’s basically the same as Eliot Spitzer’s self-imposed limit of accepting no more than $10,000 per contributor, way below the state’s legal limit of about $50,100. And it closes the loophole that allows limited liability corporations from giving endless amounts of money.

What’s missing on Cuomo's fund-raising piece, but included in Spitzer's, is a line that closes the loophole on corporate contributions.

Here’s the fine print at the bottom of Cuomo’s fundraising letter:

Andrew Cuomo 2010 will accept no more than $10,000 per election cycle from individuals, unions, political action committees, and trade associations. Partnerships and LLCs that make contributions will be required to specifically identify the partners responsible for the contribution, and that amount will be counted against each partner’s individual contribution limit. Total contributions from a corporation may not exceed $5,000 per calendar year aggregate to all New York state and local candidates and committees. Corporations, other entities and individuals are strictly prohibited from reimbursing another person/entity for making a contribution to Andrew Cuomo 2010. All contributors must be US citizens or permanent resident aliens (green card holder).

And here’s the line missing from Cuomo's fine print that's included in on Spitzer’s fund-raising materials:

Contributions made by a corporation’s affiliates and/or subsidiaries will be viewed as cumulative against that corporation’s $5,000 limit to Spitzer 2010. Spitzer 2010 will not accept contributions from at-will employees or their spouses or domestic partners.

Amy Dowell, who runs Cuomo 2010, emailed over this statement:

"We have voluntarily accepted the $10,000 limit to show solidarity with the Governor's proposal and we expect a new campaign finance law to be passed this session to provide certainty to the situation."