State nod helps Clinton raise funds

CHICAGO

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is using her nomination as secretary of state to encourage supporters to give her money to pay off her presidential campaign debt, and she can continue to do so legally should she be confirmed.

The Hatch Act governing executive branch officials and employees would require Mrs. Clinton to cease new fundraising if, as expected, she joins President-elect Barack Obama’s administration in January.

But the law allows her presidential committee to keep raising money - and she can even attend fundraisers - in order to retire her campaign debt.

She’s not wasting any time. A “congratulations” e-mail to supporters from former President Bill Clinton linked to a page soliciting donations to Hillary Clinton for President. Mrs. Clinton and her husband are attending a fundraiser this month in New York.

The secretary of state-designate apparently is a big fundraising draw, as Mr. Obama also is using the announcement to raise money, asking for cash when telling supporters he had chosen Mrs. Clinton, his former presidential rival, for the Cabinet post. Obama campaign manager David Plouffe e-mailed supporters Tuesday to list the members of the new national security team in a note that included a “Please donate” button linking to the transition fundraising Web page.

Mrs. Clinton raised more than $217 million for her presidential bid and millions more for other Democrats running for office. As of her latest filing, Mrs. Clinton’s committee remains saddled with $7.6 million in debt, a big drop from previous reports but still a hefty sum.

The Clintons are set to take part in a Dec. 15 “conversation” with “Ugly Betty” actress and Clinton supporter America Ferrera at the event, which is billed as supporting her campaign debt relief.

The invitation notes that supporters who recruit at least 10 people to give the maximum $1,000 donation will get a “VIP seat upgrade and backstage photo with Hillary.” General seats are $50.

Thursday night, an Obama transition source said the president-elect would tap into his huge donor list to help Mrs. Clinton pay off her debt.

An e-mail appeal by Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Mrs. Clinton’s behalf will be sent to Mr. Obama’s 13-million-strong e-mail list, the source said. The e-mail had not been sent by Thursday night.

Ethics watchdog groups and campaign finance analysts said the law lets the Hillary Clinton for President Committee continue fundraising even if she is confirmed for the Cabinet position, provided that the solicitation does not come from her personally.

In addition, a 2001 advisory opinion authored by the Bush administration’s Office of Special Counsel even allows for attendance at debt-relief fundraisers as long as the Cabinet member does not speak beyond a brief statement of appreciation.

Ana Galindo-Marrone, chief of the Hatch Act unit at the Office of Special Counsel, said the opinion is “very narrow” and covers a “unique situation where the Cabinet member is a previously elected official and only involves the retirement of campaign debt.”

“They can get up and say ‘Thank you,’ but that’s pretty much it,” she said.

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