Hillary Clinton to Ask Fat Cats to Support Barack Obama
By Michael Saul
Daily News Political Correspondent
Hillary Clinton will appear with Barack Obama in Washington next week to persuade her top donors to write big checks to the Democrats' nominee, the Daily News has learned.
The June 26 event will be the first to bring together the victor and vanquished from the Democratic primary race and put their pledges of unity for the fall campaign into action, a source said. A joint public appearance also is in the works, insiders said.
Jonathan Mantz, Clinton's national finance director, sent top Clinton fund-raisers an e-mail Tuesday inviting them to the June 26 event, as The News first reported on its Web site Tuesday afternoon.
The meeting's purpose, Mantz wrote, was "to discuss how we can work together to support Barack Obama and the Democratic Party."
The Clinton campaign is encouraging its supporters to contribute $2,300 to Obama's campaign before the August party convention, Mantz wrote.
The fund-raising event, which will be held at the Mayflower Hotel, comes as the Obama campaign is working aggressively to the heal wounds left by the long, intense fight for the nomination.
In a clear sign of how fractured the party remains, Obama supporters at his rally in Detroit Monday night booed when Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, a former Clinton supporter, mentioned the former First Lady.
"Come on now," an irritated Granholm lectured the crowd. "She's a great American."
Since Clinton suspended her campaign and endorsed Obama June 7, the two camps have been talking about what role Clinton will play and how to unify the party. The event in Washington marks a major step forward.
Clinton also has set a conference call with donors Thursday.
"They're trying to do the right thing," one Clinton supporter said. "Whether they're ecstatic about it or not, I don't know."
Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki said he is "grateful for her support and looks forward to working together in the months to come, and in the White House."
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