Obama asks donors to help Clinton with debt
WASHINGTON --Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama asked members of his finance team Tuesday to help Hillary Rodham Clinton pay off at least $10 million of the debt from her failed White House bid.
In an afternoon teleconference with his top fundraisers, Obama asked them to "do what they could do" to help Clinton, according to a Democrat familiar with the call.
A campaign spokesman also confirmed that Obama had asked them to help the former first lady.
"Some of our donors have asked and Barack said if they have the ability to raise or give money to help on debt, we encourage them to do so," spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
Obama's directive came two days before he and Clinton meet in Washington on Thursday with some of her top fundraisers to get them on board with his campaign after their bruising contest for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Obama clinched the nomination earlier this month; Clinton suspended her campaign and endorsed him.
Clinton ended May $22 million in the red. More than half of the total was her own money that she poured into the campaign.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrat Barack Obama has asked his finance team to help Hillary Rodham Clinton pay off at least $10 million of the debt from her failed presidential campaign.
In a teleconference with his top fundraisers Tuesday afternoon, Obama asked them to do what they could to help Clinton, according to a Democrat familiar with the call and a spokesman for Obama's campaign.
Obama's directive comes two days before he and Clinton meet in Washington with some of her top fundraisers in a show of unity after their bruising contest for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Clinton ended May $22 million in the red. More than half of that money was her own. 