Text size:

Hillary bucks Dem boss Dean

Senator says DNC chairman should raise more funds for '06 candidates as well as for future races

BY GLENN THRUSH | Newsday Washington Bureau

September 29, 2006

WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton took a backhanded swipe at Democratic National Committee boss Howard Dean yesterday, saying Dean's long-term party-building efforts should take a back seat to fundraising for the midterm elections.

"The [Republican National Committee] is pouring tens of millions of dollars into races and we're not matching that," Clinton said during a DNC fundraiser in Washington.

"We're doing investments, you know, in ground [operations] and other efforts which will be very beneficial, but the RNC has about $60 million to $70 million waiting to drop on our candidates," she added.

To boost Democratic coffers, Bill and Hillary Clinton will host a million-dollar fundraiser for party committees on Oct. 4 at their Washington mansion, Whitehaven.

The senator also plans events in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida, and will host an event for Virginia senatorial hopeful Jim Webb, who has been gaining ground against stumbling incumbent Republican George Allen.

Many Democrats, including Clinton advisers, are frustrated with Dean's "50-state strategy," which accentuates grassroots organizing at the expense of election-specific cash-grabbing.

The Democrats' Senate and House fundraising committees, led by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Rahm Emmanuel (D-Ill.), have had banner years, while Dean's DNC has lagged with about $11 million on hand compared to the RNC's $39 million in the bank.

Clinton campaign spokeswoman Ann Lewis said the senator's remarks weren't meant to be critical of Dean, calling them "a positive reference to the 50-state strategy and also a recognition that we still need to raise money for Democrats." Clinton hopes to help raise an additional $5 million for candidates; several insiders predicted the Clintons might generate as much as $2 million at next week's fundraiser.

Clinton, who accused the GOP of having "shredded" the Constitution by accepting weakened torture restrictions, told the DNC crowd she's been surprised by an influx of Republicans at her fundraising events.

"I have a little ceremony where they can go through absolution," she quipped.

Despite defining herself as "the most paranoid campaigner you can find," Clinton is confident she'll beat underdog GOP challenger John Spencer this fall, freeing her to travel.

"Senator Clinton, the Arkansas traveler, is on the road once again campaigning for president," said Spencer spokesman Rob Ryan.