Clinton lends her campaign $5 million

Delegate count to be close, but money gap widens as Clinton lends her campaign $5 million

By NEWS SERVICES, Washington Post

Last update: February 6, 2008 - 11:40 PM

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WASHINGTON

Once the leading fund-raiser among presidential candidates with a $100 million war chest, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday that she has lent her campaign $5 million, and aides confirmed that some of her top staff members are currently working without pay.

The day after Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama fought to a draw in the Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses, Clinton attempted to narrow a growing gap between the two candidates' fundraising.

Meanwhile, Obama announced he has raised another $5.2 million since the polls closed Tuesday -- money that is expected to go toward television advertising in the remaining primary states -- and rejected calls for more debates.

Sparring over delegates

The news came as the candidates sparred over who was the victor in Tuesday's coast-to-coast voting. Clinton aides pointed to her victories in big states such as California and New Jersey, while Obama's camp highlighted his victories in 13 states.

The Associated Press said Clinton had won 737 delegates Tuesday to 699 for Obama, with almost 300 still to be accounted for. Obama advisers reported that he would emerge with 847 delegates to Clinton's 834, giving them a total lead among pledged delegates of 910-882. The Clinton campaign said it did not have final projections but estimated it would be close.

The narrow margin, and the likelihood that it will stay close, stirred concern from the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Howard Dean, who said Obama and Clinton should avoid taking the nominating fight all the way to the party convention in August. "I don't think we can afford to have a brokered convention," he said.

In Arlington, Va., Clinton defended her move, executed last month but disclosed Wednesday, to add money to her campaign coffers. She said, "We had a great month fundraising in January, broke all records. But my opponent was able to raise more money. We intended to be competitive, and we were, and I think the results last night proved the wisdom of my investment."

Clinton has written books that have been earned her at least $6.6 million, but much of her wealth appears to have come from her husband's business dealings since he left the White House.

She also asked supporters to donate $3 million over three days -- which would roughly double the recent rate of giving to her campaign -- as a way to show momentum against Obama.

A surprise to donors

News of the transfer came as a surprise to her donors who thought her campaign would keep pace with Obama's. Terry McAuliffe, the Clinton campaign chairman, said the campaign raised at least $13 million in January, not including the loan. Obama has said he raised $32 million in January alone.

In a sign that her campaign was short on money, advisers said some staff members were foregoing pay in February, including the campaign manager, Patti Solis Doyle.

The campaign aides won't be working for free for long, said one Clinton adviser. "Everyone is expecting it to be temporary."

It was unclear if the news would affect her future fundraising. But the timing of the announcement suggested that the campaign was aware it could be a public relations hit.

Joe Trippi, the former campaign manager for John Edwards, said: "It means she's at a tremendous disadvantage moving forward. The worst thing to be is an 800-pound gorilla whose out of money. The cultural shock for the campaign is incredible."

The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and New York Times contributed to this report.

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