Hillarysworld

Amy Dugan · Platinum

(4/29) Hillary Clinton keeps a hand in politics (Politico)

Jen the Michigander · SuperModerator

This is a great article. Lots of goodies in here.

Her presidential campaign committee, still in the process of winding down, maintains and makes money off a lasting asset from her presidential bid — an e-mail list of 2.5 million core supporters. Her Senate campaign committee accrues modest interest on a $1.9 million nest egg.

And a thriving foundation called No Limits, founded after Clinton resigned from the Senate to join Obama’s Cabinet, works to burnish her legacy, maintains contact with Clinton supporters and pursues a policy agenda that closely mirrors Clinton’s own — health care and women’s issues.

The three entities operate almost completely apart from Clinton, who is barred by protocol from active involvement in outside groups (particularly those involved in partisan politics). But their operations are intertwined, sharing the same Washington offices and drawing from the same pool of supporters and staff.

But No Limits was not created as a platform-in-waiting for Clinton when she leaves the State Department, according to its president and founder, Ann Lewis.

A top aide to Bill Clinton’s White House and a senior adviser to Hillary Clinton’s two Senate bids and presidential campaign, Lewis was paid by a Clinton political action committee called Hill PAC (also briefly headquartered in the same downtown office) until starting No Limits, which also employs two other staffers who worked on Clinton’s presidential campaign.

“The original idea,” said Lewis, “was that there were a number of people who had been active and supportive of Hillary’s campaign, who wanted to continue to stay in touch with one another and continue to be engaged on issues that she had championed. And we have found increasingly that they also now enjoy learning about what the work that she’s doing and the initiatives that she’s taking as secretary of state that doesn’t get a lot of press coverage.”

Lewis said she has only communicated a couple of times with Clinton about the group and its mission, which, Lewis stressed, is focused on policy, not boosting her or anyone else politically. Its website says the group was “inspired by Secretary Clinton’s leadership,” and it features clips of Clinton appearing on Sunday public affairs shows, press releases praising her diplomatic work and the Clinton quote upon which the group’s name is based (“With our ingenuity, innovative spirit and creativity, there are no limits to what is possible in America.”).

The group’s first conference in November was described in a story circulated by No Limits as “really more of a reunion” for supporters of Clinton’s presidential campaign.

Lewis wouldn’t discuss No Limits’ finances, except to say that the group receives a mix of individual donations and group or corporate sponsorships.

According to an FEC report filed this month by Clinton’s presidential campaign committee, No Limits rents space, at a cost of $1,000 per month, from the committee, while a Clinton-linked firm now organizing events for the State Department pays the committee $1,200-a-month for space in the campaign committee’s office suite.

It can take years for big campaign committees — particularly presidential ones — to wind down operations, settle outstanding bills and deal with sometimes costly legal issues, all of which requires committees to keep cash in the bank. Clinton’s campaign finished the presidential race in bad shape, carrying an embarrassing $7.6 million in debt that could have hampered any future political maneuverings.

But a report filed this month with the FEC shows that at the end of March, Clinton’s presidential campaign had paid back all but $771,000 of that debt (which is still owed to her presidential campaign pollster Mark Penn), and had an impressive $624,000 in the bank, thanks mostly to hefty rental fees paid by No Limits and other groups to rent Clinton’s e-mail list since she became the nation’s top diplomat last year.

Hillarysmygirl16 · Administrator

I think she is planning another run. I like No Limits.

Jen the Michigander · SuperModerator

I think she's planning another run too. Yeah, I know she says she's not interested in running, but her actions indicate otherwise.

freespirit · Moderator

HMG and Jen, I'm so glad you guys think so. I had been afraid to even think there was a possibility. I know others are very skeptical. But it's hopeful to consider that she might run. (: