Devildogg4ever
07-29-03, 03:42 AM
By Anne Q. Hoy
WASHINGTON BUREAU
July 29, 2003
Washington - New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a formidable fund-raiser for other Democrats, launched a new Web siteyesterday to raise money for her own likely 2006 re-election effort.
The site offers donors a panoply of rewards ranging from coffee mugs and pens to "silver toned" bookmarks and "personally inscribed" copies of her bestselling memoir "Living History."
Those eager to shift into "first gear" can become a "Hill's Angel" by sending e-mails to 10 friends touting the senator, an effort that earns a membership card emblazoned with wings overlaid with a giant H. Suggested contributions range from $25 "second gear," which brings the card and a "Living History" bookmark, to "overdrive," which will cost you $500 and garner a gift package - coffee mug, pen, paper bookmark, silver-toned bookmark and a "personally inscribed" copy of her memoir, according to the Web site, www.friendsofhillary.com. "Quantities are limited!" it says.
On Oct. 15, "Hill Raisers" can enjoy an online chat with Clinton if they can raise $3,000 for her re-election.
Such gimmicks show the realities of today's fund-raising under a new campaign law that bans large unregulated "soft money" donations, making such fund-raising networks essential, said Steven Weiss of the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan group that tracks money and politics.
"Access is the name of the game," Weiss said. Republicans and Democrats alike increasingly offer the biggest donors separate time with candidates.
Lee Miringoff, with the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, said Clinton is playing a smart game of defensive politics. He noted, however, that early fund-raising is unlikely to dissuade a potential, big-name challenger such as former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Polls show Clinton remains a polarizing figure. A Marist survey of New York voters in June also found that Giuliani would best Clinton 56 percent to 39 percent. It had a margin of error of 4.5 percentage points.
Patti Solis Doyle, who heads Clinton's fund-raising committees, called the Web site the first step in what will be an aggressive fund-raising effort. There also is a Spanish- language version of the site and a voter registration area.
Republicans have long used Clinton to raise money. The National Republican Senatorial Committee, for example, is currently offering potential donors "Hillary e-mail alerts" under a "Stop Hillary Now!" heading.
In 2001 and 2002, Clinton gave Democratic candidates $839,000, making her the most generous donor to others in the Senate, topping even Democratic Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.).
Weiss said such donations signal higher ambitions. "It does not necessarily say 'I am running for president,'" he said, but it shows that Clinton wants the allegiance of fellow Democrats for future aspirations.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/politics/ny-ushill293392415jul29,0,1274067.story?coll=ny-lipolitics-headlines
WASHINGTON BUREAU
July 29, 2003
Washington - New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a formidable fund-raiser for other Democrats, launched a new Web siteyesterday to raise money for her own likely 2006 re-election effort.
The site offers donors a panoply of rewards ranging from coffee mugs and pens to "silver toned" bookmarks and "personally inscribed" copies of her bestselling memoir "Living History."
Those eager to shift into "first gear" can become a "Hill's Angel" by sending e-mails to 10 friends touting the senator, an effort that earns a membership card emblazoned with wings overlaid with a giant H. Suggested contributions range from $25 "second gear," which brings the card and a "Living History" bookmark, to "overdrive," which will cost you $500 and garner a gift package - coffee mug, pen, paper bookmark, silver-toned bookmark and a "personally inscribed" copy of her memoir, according to the Web site, www.friendsofhillary.com. "Quantities are limited!" it says.
On Oct. 15, "Hill Raisers" can enjoy an online chat with Clinton if they can raise $3,000 for her re-election.
Such gimmicks show the realities of today's fund-raising under a new campaign law that bans large unregulated "soft money" donations, making such fund-raising networks essential, said Steven Weiss of the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan group that tracks money and politics.
"Access is the name of the game," Weiss said. Republicans and Democrats alike increasingly offer the biggest donors separate time with candidates.
Lee Miringoff, with the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, said Clinton is playing a smart game of defensive politics. He noted, however, that early fund-raising is unlikely to dissuade a potential, big-name challenger such as former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Polls show Clinton remains a polarizing figure. A Marist survey of New York voters in June also found that Giuliani would best Clinton 56 percent to 39 percent. It had a margin of error of 4.5 percentage points.
Patti Solis Doyle, who heads Clinton's fund-raising committees, called the Web site the first step in what will be an aggressive fund-raising effort. There also is a Spanish- language version of the site and a voter registration area.
Republicans have long used Clinton to raise money. The National Republican Senatorial Committee, for example, is currently offering potential donors "Hillary e-mail alerts" under a "Stop Hillary Now!" heading.
In 2001 and 2002, Clinton gave Democratic candidates $839,000, making her the most generous donor to others in the Senate, topping even Democratic Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.).
Weiss said such donations signal higher ambitions. "It does not necessarily say 'I am running for president,'" he said, but it shows that Clinton wants the allegiance of fellow Democrats for future aspirations.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/politics/ny-ushill293392415jul29,0,1274067.story?coll=ny-lipolitics-headlines