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Obama, Clinton to join forces at fundraiser

BY GLENN THRUSH | glenn.thrush@newsday.com

June 18, 2008

WASHINGTON - The Barack and Hillary Reunion Tour has booked its first gig.

Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama will appear side by side June 26 for the first time since the former first lady suspended her presidential bid, for a fundraiser where she'll try to persuade former donors to share the wealth with Obama.

The low-key duet at Washington's Mayflower Hotel comes after Clinton's June 7 withdrawal announcement.

"As we move forward, we invite you to join us for a National Finance Committee meeting with both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama on Thursday, June 26th in Washington, D.C., to discuss how we can work together to support Barack Obama and the Democratic Party," wrote Clinton's national finance director Jonathan Mantz in an e-mail to top fundraisers yesterday.

While most Clinton fundraisers have said they'll back Obama, some have said they are struggling with switching sides after an often bitter 17-month campaign.