Clinton, Obama aides discuss joint fundraising

THE WASHINGTON POST

May 18, 2008

WASHINGTON - Top fundraisers for Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama have begun private talks aimed at merging the two candidates' teams, not waiting for the Democratic nominating process to end before they start preparations for a hard-fought fall campaign.

Aides to both candidates are resigned that the Democratic contest will continue at least through June 3, when Montana and South Dakota cast the final votes of the primary season.

But in small gatherings around Washington and in planning sessions for party unity events in New York and Boston in coming weeks, fundraisers and surrogates from both camps are discussing how they can put aside past vitriol and move forward to ensure the eventual nominee has the resources to defeat John McCain in November.

A dinner of about 35 Clinton and Obama insiders here last week was aimed at helping the two sides "grope towards unity," according to one attendee. The gathering was a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee at which former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin was honored, but guests were well aware of the symbolism. The event honoring a prominent Clinton supporter was held at the home of an Obama backer and co-hosted by another - former Sen. Thomas Daschle of South Dakota.

"We're all thinking about November," said Robert Zimmerman, a New York public relations expert and top Clinton fundraiser. "We are starting a dialogue together. I've made it clear (Obama backers) will be welcome to come on board. They've said the same to me." Zimmerman, a Democratic national committeeman, said DNC chairman Howard Dean has been a central figure in starting to bring the camps together.

Dean is organizing a May 31 fundraiser in Manhattan honoring Al Gore. The event is being chaired by Orin Kramer, one of Obama's top fundraisers, and by Maureen White, a longtime party fundraiser who has been assisting Clinton.

Last week, the Democratic National Committee announced both campaigns had signed a "joint fundraising agreement" creating a fund in which donations to each candidate could be pooled with contributions to the party and then used during the general election.