Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has embarked on one of the more ambitious fundraising efforts, with a goal of raising $15 million by the end of March and amassing more than $75 million before 2008.
Clinton and members of her senior campaign team hosted a meeting of about 250 national fundraisers in Washington on Wednesday and most promised to raise at least $25,000 each for the New York senator’s White House run.
Senior members of Clinton’s campaign team, including campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle and pollster Mark Penn, sketched out
campaign strategy and shared polling information with the group, while Clinton delivered the closing pitch for support.
“It was very positive, very high energy,” said Susie Tompkins Buell, the founder of the Esprit clothing line and a longtime Clinton financial backer.
Buell is hosting a high-donor fundraising lunch for Clinton in San Francisco on Feb. 23, one of at least two dozen major events around the country before the end of the first fundraising quarter on March 31.
Clinton planned another finance committee meeting in New York on Friday, the same day she headlines a swank Manhattan gala.
“I don’t think anyone can stop her. She’s unstoppable _ she’s got such a machine,” said John Catsimatidis, a New York businessman and longtime member of Clinton’s finance team. Keep Reading >