AP: Clinton loaned herself $6.4m

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Associated Press has confirmed this morning what many have been wondering in recent days: that Hillary Clinton, short on cash, long on debts, and facing a steep climb to the Democratic nomination, loaned herself another $6.4 million over the past month.

That brings to $11.4 million the amount of personal funds Clinton has put toward her campaign to date, though aides said donors had subsequently chipped in to cover the $5 million loan she made herself earlier this year. Barack Obama's fund-raising advantage left Clinton with little choice but to give herself money. The $6.4 million is likely to have helped her fund a rush of TV ads in Indiana and North Carolina in the closing days before yesterday's primaries.

Clinton made another explicit pitch for money in her speech last night, though it's unclear, given her underwhelming result last night, whether supporters will be eager to pony up once again. She has added a campaign stop in West Virginia today, but look for much of the media focus to be on Clinton's difficult days ahead and on growing calls for her to consider pulling the plug.

UPDATE: Clinton's communications director, Howard Wolfson, just said on MSNBC that the New York senator is "invested" in this race and may give even more down the road if the campaign needs the cash. "She certainly doesn't rule it out," Wolfson said.

UPDATE: On a conference call with reporters this morning, Wolfson detailed the $6.4 million in loans, saying Clinton gave her campaign $5 million on April 11, $1 million on May 1, and $425,000 on Monday, just before voters were going to the polls. But Wolfson expressed optimism that Clinton's donors will step up again. "I think our supporters are impressed with Senator Clinton's dedication," he said. "They're impressed with her willingness to continue this contest in the face of so many voices telling her that she should get out. They've heard those voices before. They've rejected those voices before."