by Mark Silva
The $5 million which Sen. Hillary Clinton has loaned her own presidential campaign isn't the only sign that things are getting tight at camp Clinton.
The Clinton campaign's staff also has started working without pay, a reliable source inside the campaign says. "It's true,'' the source says tonight. "We're forgoing salaries.''
Now, this isn't the first campaign to forgo pay in this election cycle.
The senior staffters of the campaign of Republican Rudy Giuliani gave up their pay in January in a bid to put everything possible into Giuliani's go-for-broke strategy of winning the Florida primary. He went broke.
And most of the senior staff at camp McCain has been working without pay since last summer, when the Arizona senator's campaign was on the skids.Yet McCain has gone from nearly broke himself to becoming the apparent frontrunner in the GOP -- though he still faces a deal-closing bid to assemble the rest of the delegates needed for nomination.
Today, McCain refused to comment on strategist Charlie Black's analysis that rivals Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee are too far behind to catch up. McCain: joked "You get what you paid for'' -- making the sign of a zero with his thumb and forefinger.
But at a place like the Clinton campaign, where fundraiser extraordinaire Terry McAulliffe serves as chairman, the staff taking the volunteer path, combined with the $5 million of personal funds which the candidate has loaned her own campaign, can only mean one thing:
They are worried.
Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, who basically split the delegates at stake with Clinton in Super Tuesday's contests and has benefited from a surge in the polls in recent weeks, has far outpaced the senator from New York in January in campaign contributions.
Obama is well-financed for the fight ahead in February.
And over at camp Clinton, they have gone off the clock.
The Tribune's Jill Zuckman contributed to this report.
.
• 
• 
• 
Comments
Thrillary:
I'm gonna wash that Bush right outa my hair, I'm gonna wash that Bush right outa my hair, I'm gonna wash that man right outa my hair, And send him on his way. I'm gonna wave that Bush away from those arms, ♫
Thrillary and TheLeninSisters:
I'm gonna wave that man away from those arms, And send him on his way. Don't try to patch it up
TheLeninSisters:
Tear it up, tear it up!
♫
Hillary:
Wash him out, dry him out,
Girls:
Push him out, fly him out,
Thrillary:
Cancel him and let him go!
Girls:
Yea, sister!
♪
Hillary:
I'm gonna wash that Bush right outa my hair, And send him on his way. If a man don't understand nothin, And he fly on separate beams, Waste no time, make a change, Ride that man right off your range. Rub him out of the roll call And drum him out of your drea♬ms.
TheLeninSisters
: Oho! If you laugh at different comics, If you root for different dreams, Waste no time, weep no more, Show him what the door is for. Rub him out of the roll call And drum him out of your dreams.
♪
Hillary:
You can't light a fire when the 'Shrub' be wet!
Girls:
No!
Hillary:
You can't make a stammer into a song!
Girls:
Hmm, hmm!
Thrillary:
You can't fix an egg when it ain't quite good,
Girls:
And you can't fix a man when he's wrong!
Thrillary:
You can't put back a petal when it falls from a flower, Or sweeten up a fellow when he starts turnin' sour
Girls: ♫
Oh no! Oh no!
Hillary and Girls:
If his eyes get psycho and fishy, When you look for glints and gleams, Waste no time, Make a switch, Drop him in the nearest ditch! Rub him out of the roll call, And drum him out of your dreams Oho! Oho!
Hillary:
I went to wash that Bush right outa my hair, I went to wash that man right outa my hair, I went to wash that man right outa my hair, And sent him on his way.
Girls:
She went to wash that Bush right outa her hair,
Hillary and TheLeninSisters:♬
And send him on his way!
(Sorry Rogers and Hammerstein)
Posted by: TheLeninSisters | February 6, 2008 10:00 PM
This is exactly why candidates court the AARP crowd, because young voters simply don't show up.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/obama-girl-didnt-vote/?fark
Posted by: Jeff | February 6, 2008 10:33 PM
Well, that post is about as nonsensical as voting for Hillary!
Posted by: Sam Wainwright | February 6, 2008 10:50 PM
COULD THE KENYAN CRISIS BE REPLICATED IN USA
The 2000 USA general elections generated considerable controversy when the then Democratic candidate al gore accused President George Bush of election rigging. This accusation generated considerable tension among Al gore supporters. However, in his characteristic statesmanship, Al gore chose to settle the matter in court and when the ruling went against him; he gracefully conceded defeat and the matter ended there. However, one question that may be disturbing and beg for an answer is, supposing the cast then was President Bush against Barrack Obama? What would have been the likely scenario? Could we have for the first time in the history of electro politics in the USA witnessed massive riots and mass action across the cities in USA?
A number of clear parallels can be drawn between the campaign themes mounted by the ODM candidate Raila Odinga in Kenya last year and the current themes surrounding sen. Obama’s campaign. Raila Odinga’s election platform was change, and the economic empowerment for the so called “marginalized”. His core support groups were the youth especially the un- employed lot. His candidacy also appeared to enjoy massive support from the leading media houses and was perceived as a media candidate. On the other hand Obama’s campaign platform is also anchored on the theme of change, economic empowerment for the youth and his campaign also appear to enjoy considerable support from some of the leading media house in USA and else where. His core group of supporters is also drawn from the youth.
Last years Kenya’s general elections were very close to call and many opinion polls done throughout the campaign period appeared to suggest a very close race. Most political observers believe that the ODM supporters were never prepared to loose the elections since expectations were too high. The ultimate announcement that President Kibaki had retained his seat was therefore a major shock to the majority youthful supporters of Raila Odinga. His assertion that the polls were rigged only served to trigger massive riots and violence that have never before been witnessed in this country long considered as an oasis of peace and stability. The massive riots and violence caught almost everybody totally unprepared. Most Kenyan’s have never in their wildest dreams anticipated such large scale incidents of violence looting and absolute mayhem bordering on complete collapse of the rule of law.
Back in the USA, the current primary race between Sen. Obama and Hillary Clinton appears very close and vicious. There is a very real possibility that the race may eventually go to the wire and most American’s have not carefully thought what that may portend to the supporters of both candidates. Court proceedings might be considered as an option by any of the aggrieved candidate, but the worst case scenario might be political tensions and perhaps riot incidents especially if rigging allegations are brought up by either of the two candidates. This scenario might be much worse if this is replicated at the main general elections latter on in November.
Posted by: Anthony | February 7, 2008 2:28 AM
I think someone in the Hillary camp should look a little closer at what this guy is billing them:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/06/mark-penns-firm-paid-4_n_85192.html
Posted by: lochnessmonster | February 7, 2008 7:00 AM
C'MON EVERYBODY HERE,
I am willing to send half my grocery money. I'm disabled and get $50 in food stamps here in Florida because I have so low ammount I have to earn $50 each week o I am going to send ***((($25)))*** of that through a check!
I know it's very difficult to do but if we don't look what we have as our presidents...
J O I N M E, the effort is worth it or you will get less and pay more to your government
WHICH WOULD YOU RATHER DO!
Bob Brown, Wilton Manors FL
Posted by: Robert A Brown Jr | February 7, 2008 8:01 AM
I guess all that dishonesty and being fake is costly, she couldn't even answer the reporter who asked where she was getting the money to loan her campaign without looking mean and sounding as if she could have beat him to death.
Instead of all the spin and lying maybe if the Clinton took some time to figure out who they really are and strive to be authentic then perhaps they could attract donations from all these old women who believe that she should be the democratic nominee.
Upon hearing this news I am making sure to send the Obama campaign more money.
Posted by: Pat | February 7, 2008 8:11 AM
Obama has raised over $6.5M since Super Tuesday --- all from us, the volunteers and supporters that know that another Clinton in office is just the same as another Bush. I can deal with the mistakes of a new President (remember when Clinton was young in 1992?) but know that he is yet owned by or jaded by the Washington entrenchment that now owns Hillary and McCain. Let's start over and get involved.
comingawakening@gmail. com
Posted by: JPerez | February 7, 2008 8:13 AM
"This is exactly why candidates court the AARP crowd, because young voters simply don't show up."
Jeff,
Agree. The kids don't vote, though I am happy to report I have voted in every election since 1972, probably canceling out every one of your votes. haha
But the young folks have other interests beyond the political wars our politics have become.
Posted by: C.Morris | February 7, 2008 9:28 AM
We got the Clintons exactly where we want them. Let's bury them now, Obama supporters by sending more cash to OBAMA.
None of their race-baiting, gender card-playing, and smearing has worked so far.How sad!
Posted by: joseph pierre | February 7, 2008 10:17 AM