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Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton announced last week that they would attend a series of fundraisers in New York together, one to help pay down her campaign debt and the rest to help raise money for his White House bid.
But a busy day in the Senate delayed Obama in Washington, forcing him to combine two events into one where he was supposed to ask donors to help Clinton as well as contribute to his campaign.
Barack Obama, 47, who needs Clinton to drum up support among women voters, praised her as "extraordinary" and "tough" but almost forgot about her need for funds.
After wrapping up his speech to donors on Wednesday evening with an emphatic, "We will change the world!", Obama left the stage to loud music, only to re-appear minutes later to complete his duties.
"Hold on second guys, I was getting all carried away. I've got one more thing that is important to do," Obama said to a laughing audience.
"Senator Clinton still has some debt. And I could have had some debt if I hadn't won so I know the drill," he said.
He then asked donors to contribute to Clinton on the pledge cards under their seats, calling it "part of the process of making sure that we are unified moving forward."
"That is very important to us, and obviously Senator Clinton would be grateful as well," the Senator from Illinois, who aspires to be the first black-American President, said.
Clinton, who lost to Obama in the Democratic Party nomination race last month, ended her campaign more than USD 22 million in debt.
Meanwhile, the former first lady's supporters are not yet fully reconciled to her defeat in the nomination race.
Though Obama has promised Clinton to help her retire her debt, the Clinton campaign has been quoted in media reports complaining that despite promises, money is not forthcoming in amounts needed.
Nor Clinton campaign workers are being absorbed in the Obama campaign.
The news paper in a major investigative story recently had reported that contributors to Obama's campaign are not enthusiastic about helping Clinton monetarily as they feel that she had incurred most of the debt for campaign when she knew she had no chance and numbers were against her.
Though Clinton has appeared with Obama at least five times since she accepted her defeat, analysts say that should his campaign fail to help her retire her debt, the support of Clinton could be lukewarm.
But they are divided how much effect lack of support would have on Obama's campaign.
At Thursday's function, Clinton called on 17 million Americans who voted for her to get over frustrations and help put Obama in the White House.
"I know how difficult it is for someone who has invested their time, their money, their emotion, their entire being into any campaign, any cause," she said.
"It really is an extraordinary personal experience," she said.
The news paper said Obama has pledged help to Clinton in paying the USD 12 million she owes vendors and consultants, including her onetime pollster and chief strategist Mark Penn, whom many Obama supporters despise.
Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, it added, lent her campaign USD 11 million in personal money, which they are not asking backers to help repay.
It will not be known for weeks how Obama's supporters respond to the appeal, the paper said.
Source: By DDNEWS
Posted July 11th, 2008 by Armen Hareyan
BarryOSpeaksToWomen
First of all, let me say we need to pass legislation for equal pay for women. I don’t pay my staffers equal pay, but my opponent, John McCain does, so legislation is necessary. Now, for all of you Hillary supporters: come on, sweeties. I know I didn't fight for equal rights, or do any time in the trenches or anything, but I was a heck of a community organizer (whatever that is). I have to admit, it's a good thing Emil Jones, Jr. let me take credit for all of the legislation he authored in Illinois or my thin resume would be nonexistent! LOL!! But, hey, that's what friends are for, at least until the bus comes along. Dean, Pelosi, Moveon.org, and all the rest have pushed for me, too, along with the MSM. (A shout out to my homey, Olbermann, woo, woo!) But, sweeties, the point is this: I stole this election fair and square. Send me your money, vote for me and I might even give your girl Hillary a job writing up some healthcare legislation. Don't expect her to get too close to the White House, though; to be honest, Michelle wants to pick out the drapes herself and she just doesn't like Hillary. Me, I think she's likeable enough, but--well, you know women. So stop crying and get over it. You’re going to have to settle for me, the unqualified, inexperienced guy. But, let's be real: I'm a Democrat and it’s a rule, isn’t it? I mean, you have to fall in line and vote for me, don’t you? Nancy, you said they had to!!