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A big fucking deal.

Eric D. Schwerin
eschwerin@rosemontseneca.com

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On Oct 2, 2015, at 7:35 PM, Alexander S. Mackler <smacklera@gmail.com>
wrote:

I really hope all these people can raise what they're saying they can
raise. If they can, it's a big deal.


ASM

On Oct 2, 2015, at 7:08 PM, Eric Schwerin <eschwerin@rosemontseneca.com>
wrote:

Some Hillary Clinton Donors Defect to Movement to Draft Joe Biden - WSJ

http://www.wsj.com/articles/some-hillary-clinton-donors-defect-to-movement-to-draft-joe-biden-1443816232

Some Hillary Clinton Donors Defect to Movement to Draft Joe Biden
[image: Vice President Joe Biden, in foreground, awaits the arrival of the
Chinese president at the White House last week.] ENLARGE

Vice President Joe Biden, in foreground, awaits the arrival of the Chinese
president at the White House last week. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Associated
Press
By
Colleen McCain Nelson And
Peter Nicholas
Oct. 2, 2015 4:03 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON—Some Hillary Clinton donors are defecting to Joe Biden
<http://topics.wsj.com/person/B/Joe-Biden/6352>, resisting entreaties from
the Democratic front-runner’s campaign to stand by her despite slipping
poll numbers.

A few of the fundraisers have gone public with their presidential
preference. Others have quietly decamped and signaled their intentions to
the Draft Biden 2016 super PAC that is working to prod the vice president
into the race for the White House.

“Instead of being ready for Hillary, we’re waiting for Joe,” said Bill
Bartmann, the founder and chief executive of CFS2 Inc., and onetime donor
to Mrs. Clinton’s friendly super PAC. Mr. Bartmann’s switch in allegiance
prompted one Clinton campaign official to contact him and ask: “Why are you
doing this?” he said.

Clinton fundraisers say they don’t expect many supporters to switch teams,
should Mr. Biden enter the presidential primary race. Her campaign didn’t
respond to a request for comment.

Mr. Biden’s growing support base demonstrates the threat he could present
in chipping away at Mrs. Clinton’s donor ranks, and her campaign is taking
steps to stave off high-profile defections. The increasing support for the
vice president also creates additional pressure on Mr. Biden to take a
third shot at the White House.

A decision may not be imminent, though, as Biden allies say he may wait
until after the Oct. 13 Democratic debate to announce his plans. Some of
his advisers have noted that launching a campaign and preparing for a
debate simultaneously might not be the best strategy, said one Democrat
familiar with the Biden team’s planning.

In the meantime, the Draft Biden organization is securing commitments as
the vice president’s public standing is on the rise, while Mrs. Clinton
appears more vulnerable. A Wall Street Journal/NBC poll released this week
shows that Mr. Biden is running stronger than Mrs. Clinton in head-to-head
match-ups against leading Republican candidates.

Mr. Bartmann was an early supporter of Ready for Hillary, contributing
$5,000 to the pro-Clinton super PAC, in part, he said, because it appeared
inevitable that the former secretary of state would be the Democratic
nominee.

Mrs. Clinton’s handling of questions about the private email server she
used as secretary of state troubled Mr. Bartmann and eventually prompted
him to consider his options. He now says he wants to “be as helpful as the
law allows” in donating to a Biden presidential bid.

Beata Stylianos, a technology executive from Los Angeles, gave the maximum
$2,700 contribution to Mrs. Clinton’s primary campaign in June. Now, she is
supporting the effort to nudge Mr. Biden into the race.

As a widow, she said she has been moved by how Mr. Biden has dealt with
losses in his own family, including the death in May of his son Beau Biden.
“When you have someone of his stature be so honest and frank, it’s
inspiring and it inspired me,” said Ms. Stylianos, who has also made
contributions to the Democratic National Committee and various Senate races.

Erik Ramanathan, who raised funds for Mr. Obama’s 2012 re-election bid,
said he would do the same for Mr. Biden, if he runs. Mrs. Clinton’s
fundraising team has called and asked him to sign on, something Mr.
Ramanathan said he would contemplate only if Mr. Biden opts out.

“I want to see this play out. I want Biden in the race,” he said.

Should Mr. Biden enter the race, his supporters believe he will have ample
sums of money to mount a serious campaign.

Stephen Cozen, founder of the Philadelphia-based law firm Cozen O’Connor
and a longtime friend of Mr. Biden, said he has told the Draft Biden group
that he would quickly be able to raise $1 million. Mr. Cozen, who made a
donation to Mrs. Clinton’s 2008 presidential bid, said he believes at least
100 people across the country are positioned to raise the same amount for
Mr. Biden.

Still, the Biden team’s mission would be uphill. Mrs. Clinton has built a
formidable fundraising machine. Her campaign announced this week that she
raised more than $28 million in the third quarter. That was a significant
drop-off from her second-quarter tally, but Mrs. Clinton still raised more
than any Democratic or GOP candidate who has announced totals so far. And
Clinton fundraisers say they remain confident.

Marc Lasry, a billionaire hedge-fund manager who is raising funds for Mrs.
Clinton’s campaign, said he hasn’t heard from anybody who would support Mr.
Biden. “Everybody I speak to and deal with are still huge supporters of
Hillary,” Mr. Lasry said.

As Biden backers have ramped up their efforts, Mrs. Clinton’s campaign also
has reached out to her top donors in part to deter defections.

Robert Wolf, a Clinton fundraiser, said he has gotten lots of attention
since reports revealed that he had met with Mr. Biden. Mr. Wolf has had
conversations with Mrs. Clinton and two of her top advisers in recent
weeks, he said.

Jon Cooper, the national finance chairman for Draft Biden, said he has
secured commitments from a number of Clinton donors who don’t want to
disclose their plans just yet. The list of Biden backers includes at least
a half dozen Clinton bundlers who already collectively raised more than $1
million for the former secretary of state but now aim to exceed that tally
for the vice president, Mr. Cooper said.

“The minute he announces, that dam is going to break, and there’s going to
be a flood of donations,” Mr. Cooper said.

The Draft Biden super PAC also is considering a national TV ad buy as early
as next week that would focus on Mr. Biden’s record and life story, people
familiar with the matter said.

A likely delayed announcement from Mr. Biden about his presidential
intentions gives Mrs. Clinton a bit more time to try to hold on to
supporters.

October is shaping up to be a pivotal month for Mrs. Clinton. She has the
chance to demonstrate command of the issues at the Democratic debate, and
the opportunity to answer Republican critics directly when she appears
before a House committee later in October. After that comes Iowa’s
high-profile Jefferson-Jackson dinner.

“I think of this as an opportunity month for her,” said Geoff Garin, a
Democratic polling expert who works for the pro-Clinton super PAC
Priorities USA. Given that Mr. Biden is looming, he added, that “probably
makes October even more important.”

—Laura Meckler
contributed to this article.


Eric D. Schwerin
eschwerin@rosemontseneca.com

Sent from my iPhon