Clinton Seeks Help for Obama From Top Fundraisers (Update1)

By Kristin Jensen

June 27 (Bloomberg) -- Hillary Clinton asked some of her biggest fundraisers to throw their support and money-gathering power behind Barack Obama, the man who triumphed over her in the race to win the Democratic presidential nomination.

``We have to make it a priority in our lives to elect Barack Obama the next president of the United States,'' Clinton, a New York senator, told a crowd of about 200 in Washington last night. ``We are a family, and we have an opportunity now to really demonstrate clearly we do know what's at stake, and we will do whatever it takes to win back this White House.''

Obama, an Illinois senator, offered praise for Clinton at the same meeting, saying it was ``an extraordinary honor'' to compete with her. He and his finance chief Penny Pritzker also made the gesture of writing personal checks for the maximum amount allowed by law to help Clinton retire campaign debt.

The session with Clinton's fundraisers kicked off a two-day show of unity for the two Democrats who battled for 16 months, each winning millions of votes. Obama clinched the nomination on June 3, and Clinton soon after pledged to support him.

Clinton and Obama today travel to Unity, New Hampshire, for their first joint campaign appearance. Clinton won the state's primary in January in a close race, and each candidate received 107 votes in the town, Obama's campaign said.

Chatting on Plane

Clinton boarded the plane at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport this morning just ahead of Obama. The two smiled, laughed and sat together chatting in the second row of Obama's charter plane. Her light blue pantsuit was an almost perfect match for his light blue tie.

``I want her campaigning as much as she can,'' Obama told reporters in Chicago on June 25. ``I think we'll have a terrific time together in New Hampshire, and I think that she will be very effective all the way through November.''

Ahead of today's event, Republicans have been playing up the criticisms that Clinton made of Obama during their primary battles. The Republican National Committee has sent reporters a daily ``Countdown'' featuring Clinton quotes such as when she asked about him, ``what is the substance here?''

Clinton, 60, may be particularly helpful to Obama, 46, in states she won, such as Pennsylvania, and with groups of voters that flocked to her, including women, Hispanics and blue-collar workers. Her presence in the race offered a critical challenge, Obama told Clinton's supporters last night in Washington.

`Extraordinary Test'

``It was an extraordinary test,'' Obama said. ``I am a better candidate as a consequence of having run against Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.''

The Obama campaign only allowed one reporter into the meeting last night at Washington's Mayflower Hotel, and she compiled a ``pool report'' for all media outlets to share with comments from the two senators. Attendees at the meeting included former Democratic National Committee finance chair Maureen White, former Clinton Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater and Clinton's campaign chairman, Terry McAuliffe.

Obama and his wife Michelle each donated $2,300 to Clinton's debt relief last night, Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt said. Pritzker did the same for herself and her husband. ``We're helping,'' Pritzker said on her way into the ballroom, according to the pool report. ``It's important.''

Clinton finished May with more than $20 million in debt, including $12.2 million in loans she gave to her campaign. She is asking supporters to help cover the portion of the debt owed to others; Obama said he's asking the same of his top donors.

Large Donors

``What I said was, to my large donors who are in a position to write large checks, to help Senator Clinton retire her debt, or at least a portion of it,'' Obama said on June 25. ``And I think they're going to be those who are willing to do so.''

He said he won't be sending out an appeal to donors with tighter budgets, who gave $5 or $15 to him. ``Frankly, it probably wouldn't be that effective in terms of making a big dent in Senator Clinton's debt,'' Obama said.

Obama will take on Arizona Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, in the November election. A recent Bloomberg News/Los Angeles Times poll showed Obama has a 15-point advantage nationally in the race against McCain.

In an interview with Bloomberg Television yesterday after holding an economic summit in Pittsburgh, Obama said he doesn't count on polls.

``I didn't believe them when I was down 20 or 30 last summer and I don't believe them when I'm up 15,'' Obama said. ``My job is to present a vision for how we can move this economy forward, how we can grow the economic pie, and have continued upward mobility. And that's the key.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Kristin Jensen in Washington at kjensen@bloomberg.net ;

Last Updated: June 27, 2008 09:46 EDT

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