| Politico did some reporting, and found that Clinton had committed to a fund-raiser for Maloney's House committee months ago, as part of a thank-you tour of Democratic incumbents who had supported Hillary in the presidential primary.
Now, Clinton is essentially raising money for Maloney's Senate primary challenge:
The fundraiser is for Maloney's House fund but in practical terms, the fundraiser has the same effect as raising money for a Senate campaign. Maloney is allowed to transfer unlimited sums from her House campaign account to any future Senate account, according to FEC law.
That was presumably not Clinton's intention when he said he'd help Maloney raise some money for her House re-election.
Clinton's appearance for Gillibrand raised about $250,000; Maloney's event will be lucky to do as well.
Clinton has supported Gilibrand in the past, with fund-raising and two last-week airport rally appearances in 2006. Connections to the Clinton network are obviously a major reason why Gillibrand is such a prodigious fund-raiser.
Clinton has probably also supported Maloney, though she needed less of his help, given her longtime incumbency and her deep-blue district.
But the Clintons and their network have been solid supporters of Sen. Gillibrand. There was a whole New York Times story, headlined "Old Clinton Hands Line Up Behind Gillibrand," about it in March.
Here's the lede of that story:
Even as rival Democrats are lining up to challenge to Kirsten E. Gillibrand next year, the new senator is acquiring a major advantage: much of Hillary Rodham Clinton's extensive New York network of campaign operatives, donors and advisers.
Since Ms. Gillibrand was appointed in January, top Clinton aides have signed on to her campaign or Senate staff. Others with ties to Mrs. Clinton have worked to help smooth over rifts with groups that are skeptical of Ms. Gillibrand's relatively conservative voting record. Some of Mrs. Clinton's top presidential fund-raisers have joined Ms. Gillibrand's finance team to help her raise the $70 million or more she will need for the 2010 and 2012 elections.
Bill Clinton is being a mensch, and honoring a commitment to Maloney based on her supporting Hillary in her presidential run.
That's all there is to the "Bill Clinton raising money for Maloney" story. |
