Big Clinton Fund-Raisers May Run Their Own Ads

BIG CLINTON FUND-RAISERS MAY RUN THEIR OWN ADS
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Brody Mullins brody.mullins@wsj.com, John Emshwiller and Ianthe Jeanne Dugan ]
As Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) faces a money crunch, several of her top fund-raisers are considering using independent organizations to wage their own campaigns on her behalf. At least two sets of Sen Clinton fund-raisers are speaking with lawyers to figure out how to create independent entities to support Sen Clinton in Ohio, Texas and other primary contests. Susie Tompkins Buell, the founder of the Esprit clothing company, says she is deciding whether to start her own entity to fund commercials for Sen Clinton, or whether to donate to existing groups, such as abortion-rights group Emily's List, that are already spending money on Sen Clinton. It's not certain that any of the efforts by the Clinton fund-raisers will get off the ground. Campaign-finance law makes it difficult for campaign insiders to fund independent efforts to elect candidates. Still, the discussions highlight two financial facets of the 2008 presidential campaign. First, wealthy Americans are increasingly funding their own independent political operations to back candidates they support. Second, some of Mrs. Clinton's financial backers worry that she is falling behind in the fund-raising race.
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