Hillary Clinton has begun her 2012 Senate campaign! According to this report from the ever-shrinking LA Times, Clinton is hustling to avoid having to return money to individuals who already gave $2300 to her 2008 general election campaign that never happened. Apparently she must return the dough by August 28 unless donors give her permission transfer it into her 2012 campaign fund. Per the Times:
Her new appeal includes a photocopy of a handwritten note from Clinton that says, "Dear friend, your commitment has meant so much to me over the course of my presidential campaign. You were there for me when I needed you the most and I'll never forget it. I hope you'll help me continue to fight for the issues and causes we believe in by filling out the enclosed form in support of Friends of Hillary."
Donors who return the form are rolling over...their contribution. The Times suggests that this early fundraising might scare off Republican competitors in 2012. But does federal campaign finance law allows her to move that money over to pay off her 2008 primary debts? That is the real question.
Update: It appears that Clinton has been working on this for a while. Heidi Li Feldman blogged on it two weeks ago.
Yes, as long as the contribution is redesignated and does not put the donor above the contribution limit for the primary.
Posted by: SES | July 16, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Senator Clinton CANNOT use funds raised for her 2012 senatorial election or any 2012 raise to pay off the debt for Hillary Clinton for President, the entity that funded her candidacy this season.
Posted by: Heidi Li | July 16, 2008 at 04:16 PM