John Edwards, NewsMax.com
Monday, August 4, 2003

For example, the New York Daily News reported, “In the clearest sign that she will not run for President next year, Sen. Hillary Clinton launched a Web site yesterday for a 2006 reelection campaign.”

Not so fast, says Carl Limbacher. Limbacher is author of the new book, “Hillary’s Scheme: Inside the Next Clinton's Ruthless Agenda to Take the White House.”

Limbacher asserts that Hillary has not only been preparing for a presidential bid, but will likely do so in 2004.

”Why is Hillary raising money online three years before her next election, before the next election cycle begins in 2005?” asks Limbacher.

Limbacher argues Hillary’s site is nothing more than her presidential campaign effort masquerading as a web site for her Senate race.

Limbacher speculates that one reason Hillary may be motivated to establish a web presence is Howard Dean.

Mrs. Clinton is apparently trying to mimic the online fundraising success of presidential candidate Howard Dean who has outstripped his opponents by asking for donations online.

Now, Sen. Clinton thinks she too can hit the jackpot in cyberspace. The former first lady is already the most successful fundraiser in Congress, raising millions through her political action committee HILLPAC.

Last Monday, its first day of business, FriendsofHillary.com generated so much traffic it briefly crashed.

For $150, online donors can get a signed copy of Mrs. Clinton's book, "Living History." For $1,000, they get a signed limited edition of the book.

But most importantly Mrs. Clinton’s web site, which has a url address easily usable for a presidential run, may be keen in developing an email list for future fundraising.

Hillary is asking internet users to become a member of an online group she calls “Hill’s Angels.” Angels get membership by letting ten other internet users know about her site.

Money Is Fungible

Clinton's campaign officials insist the new effort is strictly dedicated to getting her reelected to the Senate in 2006.

If Mrs. Clinton decides to run for President next year, what will happen with all of the funds raised for her Senate bid?

But a Federal Election Commission spokesman told NewsMax last week that any money she raises could also be applied to a presidential run.

There's one restriction, however: Friends of Hillary donors could not give more than the limit allowed by law and funnel additional cash into any presidential war chest. Still, the Clintons have proven adept at skirting fundraising laws in the past.

Another possibility is that Mrs. Clinton’s Senate donors can be shifted to the coffers of the Democratic National Committee, and then be hit up again for a potential presidential bid.

On Saturday an aide to Bill and Hillary mega-donor Denise Rich went public with the claim that he was coerced into donating $2,000 to Mrs. Clinton's Senate race with the understanding that he'd subsequently be reimbursed by Mrs. Rich.

The technique is illegal but the Clintons have gotten away with it before.

At the notorious 1996 Hacienda Heights Buddhist temple fundraiser arranged by Clinton cronies Charlie Trie and John Huang, tens of thousands of dollars were raised for the Clinton-Gore campaign using impoverished nuns as straw donors.

Three Years Away?

Though Sen. Clinton has nary an opponent in sight for her reelection bid, her campaign insists that the top Democrat needs to start fundraising right now, even though the Senate election is more than three years away.

"Everyone really needs to start fundraising at some point, and this is a small step toward that," said Patti Solis Doyle, executive director of Friends of Hillary.

Still, as noted in "Hillary's Scheme," Limbacher says New York’s junior Senator is using HILLPAC in a way that mirrors the spending of the current crop of presidential candidates.

Unlike other powerhouse fundraisers in her party, for instance, Sen. Clinton is keeping the lion's share of the money she raises for herself. This allows her to develop a presidential campaign staff in waiting.

And when she does disburse the cash to candidates, it goes to states like Iowa - home of the nation's first presidential caucus.

Still, Ms. Doyle, who also runs HILLPAC for Hillary, maintained earlier this year that the pac was not a pre-presidential committee, insisting to the New York Post, "HILLPAC was founded to elect other Democrats."

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