Clinton Allies May Dump Millions Into Anti-Obama 527 Group

[EV_Ares]

Manchester, N.H. -- A panicked and cash-short Clinton campaign is seriously considering giving up on the Nevada caucuses and on the South Carolina primary in order to regroup and to save resources for the massive 19-state mega-primary on February 5.

At the same time, some top independent expenditure groups supporting Clinton have been exploring the creation of an anti-Obama "527 committee" that would take unlimited contributions from a few of Clinton's super-rich backers and from a handful of unions to finance television ads and direct mail designed to tarnish the Illinois Senator's image.

The Clinton campaign has raised over $100 million, but has "only" $15 to $20 million left. It faces donor reluctance to give more in the face of the Iowa defeat and the prospect of a second loss in New Hampshire today. Even worse, the campaign fears defections among those fundraisers who want to be with a winner and who might be easily persuaded to support Barack Obama.

While the amount of money Clinton has would seem to be more than enough by past standards, the cost of competing in the February 5 states -- including New York, California, Georgia, New Jersey, Minnesota, Colorado, Tennessee, Massachusetts and Arizona - is unprecedented in the history of American primaries. She will face, in turn, an extremely well-funded Obama campaign, whose cash register right now doesn't stop ringing as donations are coming in over the Internet, by mail and in checks handed over in person.

The decision whether to take on Obama in Nevada and South Carolina will likely be made within the next 12 hours.

Both states look like probable defeats for Clinton. South Carolina has a large black electorate that is now likely to back Obama by wide margins, and the Democratic primary is open to all voters, including independents and Republicans, two other groups that in Iowa backed Obama decisively. Clinton had looked fully competitive in Nevada, but Obama's victories have boosted his chances there and now he appears almost certain to get the endorsement of the powerful Culinary Workers Union.

rest of article @ link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/08/clinton-allies-may-dump-m_n_80460.html and

http://www.americablog.com/2008/01/hillarys-supporters-may-set-up-anti.html

[Yael]

1. I'm shocked. Shocked, I say.

[maddiejoan]

2. But wait!

HuffPo sez she's broke and can't go on.

I'm confuseditacated.

[Tom Rinaldo]

3. But lookee here

A fact based response:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3996424

[KennedyGuy]

4. FALSE...sorry..try again..

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com /

"AFSCME President Gerald McEntee just put out a statement denying reports that AFSCME is one of the groups that might be considering funding an anti-Obama 527 group ...

“We’re not about the business of swift-boating any Democratic candidate. We will not be party to any kind of effort of this type. Our campaign is about promoting Hillary Clinton – not tearing down any other candidate. Our number one priority is having the strongest Democratic candidate to take back the White House in November.
And as I was writing this post, we got this statement from Ellen Moran of Emily's List, which was also flagged in the Huffpo piece ...



“This report is incorrect. We are absolutely not setting up a 527 to engage in the presidential primary. We have a proven mode of engagement in elections via our WOMEN VOTE! program and we are proud of the work WOMEN VOTE! has done for more than a decade to engage and mobilize women voters to help elect Democrats up and down the ballot.”

[peacebird]

5. How Rove-like and totally unsurprising. Anything to win.

I think they are likely trying to cement the superdelegate votes as well.

But since the establishment and DLC want her to win, I put nothing past them.

[KennedyGuy]

6. umm..you wanna read the facts and try again?

[EV_Ares]

10. More Background

The background to this is interesting, too. As you may recall, McEntee, who backs Hillary, has already taken lots of heat from the heads of ASFCME locals for the union's campaign against Obama.

But McEntee is a Hillary backer, so he'll presumably be playing some role in the primary going forward, which explains why his statement doesn't rule out any activity at all. That McEntee has to aggressively vow to engage in no negative activity suggests the dilemma McEntee now faces as Obama wins over members of his union.

All in all, it's yet another measure of the protectiveness of Obama that his candidacy has awakened among his supporters -- something that could make Hillary allies like these reluctant to go after him as aggressively as might be necessary.

Link: http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2008/01/afscme_emilys_list_deny_any_role_in_antiobama_527_scheme.php

[TheDebbieDee]

7. This article has gone through many changes today.........

Earlier, the article specified two unions that were going to participate in the anti-Obama.

Then representatives of these unions denied it.

Now, the article has changed. I never realized until today that Huffpost was the left leaning version of the Drudge Report.

edited to add: KennedyGuy posted refuting info above. Thanks, KennedyGuy.

[midlife_mo_Jo]

13. The article clearly states that anyone associated with this would be

penalized in the future if Obama wins. I'm sure there'd be lots of denials going around!

[Sarah Ibarruri]

8. No way. Damn, it's clear she' s losing and corporations and the rich are getting nervous! nt

[midlife_mo_Jo]

9. You mean Clinton has "swiftboaters" on her side? Shocked. Just shocked!

[KennedyGuy]

11. Do you read?..this is not true.

whats wrong with you?

[midlife_mo_Jo]

14. Isn't that what the article is all about?

These are people "on her side." I didn't say they were on her staff.

If they could, they would. That's the point.

[madrchsod]

12. if they did she can kiss her bid for the presidency good-bye

it`s huffy and i really doubt this is true