Clinton campaign agrees to write off some of Vilsak's campaign debt.

[IChing]

March 26, 2007, 8:38 pm
The Vilsack-Clinton Connection
By Jeff Zeleny
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton won’t know until the night of the Iowa caucuses whether the backing of Tom and Christie Vilsack, the state’s former governor and first lady, who formally announced today that they were endorsing her, will pay off. But Mr. Vilsack could reap benefits sooner.

Before ending his presidential bid on Feb. 23, Mr. Vilsack had accumulated a debt of about $430,000. The Clinton campaign has agreed to help erase at least some of that debt. A fund-raising appeal on his behalf could be landing in mailboxes of her donors soon.

Aides to Senator Clinton and Mr. Vilsack say there was no quid pro quo. Instead, they said, there is a personal connection. As a young lawyer, Mrs. Clinton served on the Watergate Committee with Mrs. Vilsack’s brother, Tom Bell.>>>snip

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/26/the-vilsack-clinton-connection/

[IA_Seth]

1. She'll have all the support that money can buy! n/t

[ShortnFiery]

2. How interesting. No? n/t

[Larkspur]

3. When Dean paid off Mosley's campaign debt, it was a big stink

but Hillary gets a pass. Looks like the rightwing media is backing Hillary for Prez.

[flpoljunkie]

4. They both are, after all, members of the DLC's Leadership team. Vilsack was DLC president before he

resigned to run for the Dem nomination, and Hillary was Chair of the DLC's American Dream Initiative.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. no wonder vilsick is all over the media pumping hill.

"she's so nice, and real, and down to earth!"

bullshit, I say. He's nothing more than a pay per view billboard man.

[babylonsister]

6. And he might be going after the VP job... nt

[rinsd]

9. He is a long time ally of the Clintons and former head of the DLC

His support for her is hardly shocking.

[Czolgosz]

7. Smells like quid pro quo ...

[rinsd]

10. Not really when one considers the longtime relationship between Vilsack and the Clintons

But it does look bad.

[Adelante]

11. It sure does

I was surprised when Dean did it in 2004, but here it is again.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

8. I'm currently taking applications for my support during the primaries.

Bidding to start at a bargain basement price of $100,000.

[Lerkfish]

12. "no quid pro quo"?

the fact they feel they have to point out there isn't, means that there is a strong perception out there they wish to correct.

now, why would that be?

on the other hand, I was just saying to myself yesterday, how nice it would be if, after the primary, every candidate's warchest was combined, and pooled for the nominee's use, so I shouldn't fault Clinton, for the thought.

[Colobo]

13. Pay off my debts, and I'll suport you

Hillary Clinton: "The best presidency money can buy!"