Jon E. Dougherty
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003

Though she and her husband have been out of the White House for nearly three years, Hillary Clinton is still a major draw for Democratic faithful.

The magazine notes that Hillary’s star power is enabling the party to nearly match Senate Republicans in fundraising this election cycle.

Clinton, now the junior senator from New York, sells out every venue she headlines, according to Fortune Magazine.

In fact, at a recent event in Des Moines, organizers of a dinner featuring six of the Democratic candidates for president in 2004 could not generate significant ticket sales – until Hillary said she would attend. Once word got out she'd be there, the organizers sold 8,000 tickets in three days, Fortune reported.

Is she using her power to draw for her own presidential ambitions? She says no – at least not for 2004, though the jury is still out on a 2008 bid.

Still, Fortune says, survey after survey shows she could have the Democratic nomination if she sought it. Few of the nine declared candidates have managed to stir much buzz in political circles, even though political primaries are slated to begin in January.

But, she told supporters in New York earlier this fall she would like their help "for my next campaign, whatever that might be." She didn't elaborate. And yet, she's repeatedly said she would serve out her Senate term, which ends in 2006.

What of political promises? Aren't they broken all the time? Sure, but Fortune says Ms. Clinton – unlike husband Bill – is well known in Congress as a woman of her word. Even if colleagues don't agree with her positions, she at least seems to be staking them out plainly, then sticking by them.

Also, the magazine says, Hillary loves her work and it appears likely she'll soon take over a leadership position. Finally, analysts believe she needs more time to solidify her reputation as a lawmaker, a necessity if she is to vanquish her reputation as a "polarizing wife of a polarizing president," says Fortune.

Republicans know Hillary has to be reelected to the Senate in 2006 if she is to run for president in 2008. As such, the GOP is serious about defeating her; the Republican National Committee Web site even carries a "Stop Hillary Now" feature.

Raises Money

For her part, the former first lady raised $41 million for her successful 2000 campaign. She aims to raise more than that – as much as $50 million – for her next one, in hopes of discouraging potential Republican challengers like New York Gov. George Pataki or former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

"I want to be prepared," she told Fortune. "We don't have the resources that the other side does ... We are really outgunned ... I know practically everybody running from around the country and I can help them."

Asked if she enjoyed the fundraising, she replied: "Well, nobody likes asking for money."

Still, she says she's been doing the fundraising bit for many years and is intimately familiar with the process. "I have been doing this for many, many years ... long before I ever ran for anything myself," she told the mag. "I have huge numbers of contributors."

Since husband Bill has been using his notoriety to raise money for his presidential library in Arkansas, Hillary has found she can step into his limelight and instead fundraise on behalf of other Democrats.

Says ex-party Steve Grossman, according to Fortune: "I don't think you can overestimate the importance of Hillary Clinton and her network of contributors to the competitiveness of the Democratic Party."

And though senior congressional members tend to be the largest fundraisers, Hillary – via her HillPac leadership political action committee – has outpaced long-time Hill dwellers. Hillary's PAC has managed to rake in $4 million, compared to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. ($2.2 million) and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D. ($3.7 million).

Even the house the Clintons bought in D.C. is thought of as a favorite Democratic fundraising venue.

Called Whitehaven, the five-story brick colonial is the preferred scene for partisan soulmates, Fortune says, describing a typical October fundraising event, in which Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., collected $100,000 from a 100-person event there. Hillary the star is often found greeting each guest, posing for pictures with them and – as "stars" tend to do – signing autographs.

She's had similar fundraisers at Whitehaven for Senators Dick Durbin of Illinois, Carl Levin of Michigan, Maria Cantwell of Washington, and Mark Pryor of Arkansas.

Outside of Washington, she also does well. During her book tour last year, while promoting her bestseller, "Living History," she managed to raise $1 million for colleagues and for her party.

Fortune reported Hillary also raised $350,000 for Sen. Patty Murray at a Seattle event in August, and $80,000 for Minnesota Sen. Mark Dayton the following week.

Dayton tells Fortune the amount of money wasn't spectacular, but it was triple what he'd normally have taken in. "She's bigger than the other 99 of us combined," he told the magazine.

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