Bill Clinton raises cash for his wife's White House run

The former president who says he wants to become the nation's first-ever First Laddie blew into Minneapolis on Tuesday as fundraiser in chief for his wife's presidential campaign.

Bill Clinton came to town to raise money that will be poured into Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's record-busting bank account, which totaled $89 million at the end of September, $418,567 of that contributed by Minnesotans.

After a private reception at the Graves 601 Hotel that had a top ticket of $2,300, he motored across downtown to the State Theatre, where folks plunked down between $25 and $100 for a ticket.

With a turnout of 140 at the big-dollar fundraiser and 2,000 at the theater, Tuesday's rallies had the potential to as much as double Clinton's total take from Minnesotans.

"In the 40 years I've been voting, Hillary is, by a long stretch, the best qualified, nonincumbent we've ever had a chance to vote for, and that includes 1992," said the former president in reference to the year when he won election to the White House.

He ticked off the major challenges facing the country, including persistent economic inequality, restoring the nation's standing in the world, ending the war in Iraq, reforming health care and education and said, "You have to have somebody who's president who gets all that. She gets this."

Specifically regarding health care reform, he said, "She knows more about this than anyone else."

He said that while all the recent opinions polls show her ahead, "these polls can change a lot, but they sure prove she's electable. I know something about politics -- I got elected president twice -- and it ain't true that she's not electable.

"You got to have somebody who can win. We got to get the show back on the road. You will never, never, never get a chance to vote for somebody who will make a better president."

Adding endorsements

Hillary Clinton picked up the endorsement of St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, balancing out the fact that Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak was an early supporter of rival Sen. Barack Obama.

Coleman, who was among a handful of other prominent DFLers endorsing Hillary Clinton (including former Sen. Mark Dayton), praised her work on health care and children's welfare. "We look to the future and see hope, and that hope is Hillary Clinton," he said. After watching the Democratic candidates debate recently, "one person is ready to be president of the United States, and that person is Hillary Clinton," he said.

Bill Clinton has been on the road on behalf of his wife since early summer, sometimes sharing the stage with her but more often giving speeches and raising money on his own, where his legendary stump style doesn't overshadow her less natural style. On Tuesday, while he was in Minnesota, she was headlining a rally in Denver.

Before coming to Minneapolis, Clinton was in Rochester, on behalf of a longtime Friend of Bill, Dan Abraham, the founder of diet food manufacturer Slim-Fast, who endowed the Abraham Healthy Living Center at the Mayo Clinic.

Clinton spoke at the mid-afternoon event, which was closed to the public, although Mayo officials held a ticket lottery, allowing 150 employees to attend.

Clinton is stumping for his wife at a time when the New York senator has built a commanding lead in polls and in most states, just two months before the first real contests of the 2008 campaign.

A Star Tribune Minnesota Poll showed last month that the state's DFLers overwhelmingly support her by more than a 2-to-1 margin over her rivals.

Hackles and hecklers

Her dominance has made her an inviting target for her potential Republican rivals, who have recently spent as much time lambasting her as they have one another. And before Bill Clinton even arrived in Minnesota, the state Republican Party took aim at recent fundraising irregularities in his wife's campaign.

"It's time for Bill and Hillary Clinton to come clean about these thousands of dollars in questionable fundraising," state GOP Chairman Ron Carey said in an e-mail sent to reporters.

Early in his speech, Clinton was sporadically heckled. One heckler shouted that 9/11 was a fraud, and Clinton bristled. "No, it wasn't a fraud. I'll be glad to talk about it if you'll shut up and let me talk." The heckling continued, and he told another heckler "these people did not come here to hear you speak. If you don't have any self-control, we can deal with that."

When a third called 9/11 an "inside job," Clinton snapped back "How dare you? I live in New York, and I know who did that. You guys have got to be careful, or you're going to give Minnesota a bad reputation."

Supporters speak up

Clinton supporters who jammed the theater were effusive in their praise -- for the former president and for the woman they hope will be the next occupant of the White House. "Hillary is our hope!" they repeatedly chanted before Clinton took the stage.

"He did a great job when he was president, and we had a great eight years," said Stan Broton, a retired Marine from Dodge Center. "I'm ready for another great eight years. It's time for a change, and she's a good one."

Added his wife, Bonnie: "She's a strong leader and knows her stuff. It makes no difference if she's a man or a woman. We need someone in there who can do the job."

Linda Teske, a teacher from Cokato, was clutching a copy of Bill Clinton's new book, hoping for an autograph. "I can only dream, you know," she said. "I got the [$100] priority seating, so that should be worth something."

Teske said she showed up (and supports Hillary Clinton) "because I admire both of the Clintons so much. He was great and I think we're ready for a woman. I am so tired of what's going on in Washington. This country's ready for a change, and she's it."

Staff writer Chris Havens contributed to this report. Bob von Sternberg • 612-673-7184

Bob Von Sternberg • vonste@startribune.com