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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:
>
>
> 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
>
> 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, 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> “I want to see this play out. I want Biden in the race,” he said.
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> Should Mr. Biden enter the race, his supporters believe he will have ample sums of money to mount a serious campaign.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> “The minute he announces, that dam is going to break, and there’s going to be a flood of donations,” Mr. Cooper said.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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