Revote donors linked to Clinton
March 20, 2008
Ten wealthy Democrats have offered to pay for a new presidential primary in Michigan — all with ties to Hillary Rodham Clinton, who showed up in the state Wednesday seeking a revote.
Five of the donors are listed on Clinton’s campaign website as among her major fundraisers. All 10 have contributed to Clinton’s presidential or Senate campaigns or the races run by former president Bill Clinton, according to federal data compiled by the non-profit Center for Responsive Politics.
The Michigan revote donors — including New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos and financier Roger Altman — have offered to put up $12 million to pay for a new election in June.
Corzine and Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, both Clinton backers, released the donors’ names in a letter to Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm. The letter was aimed at demonstrating support for a do-over, so the state’s voters could have a say in the hotly contested nomination battle. Barack Obama’s supporters in the state have raised questions about logistics and costs.
Michigan Democrats held a primary Jan. 15, but no convention delegates were awarded because the date violated national party rules. Clinton won that vote. Obama took his name off the ballot in deference to the national party and other states that did not schedule early primaries.
Clinton changed her schedule to fly to Detroit Wednesday and challenged Obama to support a do-over. He “speaks passionately on the campaign trail about empowering the American people,” Clinton said. “I’m urging him to match those words with actions.”
Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said any notion that potential Michigan donors sought to help Clinton was “absurd.”
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“Of course, only Clinton people have come forward to say they are willing to finance it because Obama is opposing it,” he said. “We would be thrilled if Sen. Obama would direct some of his supporters” to help.
Obama, who leads Clinton in delegates, has not said whether he will back a new Michigan primary.
Wealthy individuals can legally contribute unlimited sums to state political efforts but can’t give more than $4,600 to federal candidates for primary and general elections. Obama spokesman Bill Burton said the donor list is “even more evidence that Clinton is willing to do absolutely anything to get elected.”
Billionaire financier George Soros, an Obama supporter, declined Rendell’s request to help foot the bill for a Michigan revote.
Soros “does not support holding another primary in Michigan,” spokesman Michael Vachon said.
