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Questions, cash flow for Clinton at fundraiser

BY GLENN THRUSH | Newsday Washington Bureau

August 13, 2006

The drinks were flowing and so were the $1,000 checks, but there was also an undertow of resentment over Hillary Rodham Clinton's support of the Iraq war at an East End fundraiser for the senator yesterday.

The New York Democrat's campaign said a Friday night dinner and three events yesterday were overbooked and overwhelmingly successful. But days after Ned Lamont toppled Joe Lieberman in Connecticut, some Clinton donors, many of them from the Manhattan arts community, faced her down over the war during a sometimes tense brunch yesterday morning in North Haven.

"I really want to hear her explain why she voted for the war and why she hasn't changed her position," said Joe Baldi, pulling up to the iron gates that led to the beachside mansion of Clinton supporter Lisa Perry.

"We need to get out of there, and she should be pushing for that," said Baldi, 63, a Manhattan advertising executive.

A couple of cars behind sat Julie Hudson, a supporter of the senator who said she planned to ask Clinton about her October 2002 vote in favor of the war.

"I'm going to urge her to change her position, and I want to hear what she has to say," said Hudson, 60, an artist from Manhattan.

Robert Zimmerman, a Democratic National Committee member who organized some of the weekend fundraisers, which could bring in as much as $500,000, said Clinton turned around some in the crowd by explaining how a specific withdrawal date in Iraq could hamstring commanders and endanger troops.

"Senator Clinton faced there a number of very direct questions about Iraq and dealt with them head-on," added Zimmerman, who attended the Perry event. "It evoked applause. ... People walked out feeling like she was listening to them and very inspired by her candor."

Bill Clinton didn't attend the brunch or an afternoon garden party at the East Hampton house of decorator Tony Ingrao.

In fact, as the senator was delivering a serious foreign policy speech at Ingrao's house, the former president was working the lunchtime crowd less than a mile away at Babette's, an eatery that posted a pro-Clinton petition during the late 1990s impeachment scandal. "He was just shaking everybody's hand and swigging from a big bottle of water," said a witness.

The senator's husband was due to attend a dinner for 80, cocktail reception and Jon Bon Jovi concert scheduled for last night at the estate of retail technology executive Bill Nuti.

Tomorrow, the former first couple, who are bunking at the East Hampton house of financier Terry Meehan, will attend another fundraising brunch.