Hillary Tells PUMA 'No Deal'

Update: 7 pm - I had a brief chat with PUMA founder Will Bower. His reaction at the end of the story.

On the heels of a week of reporting on PUMA, I contacted the Clinton campaign to examine some of the group's fundraising claims, and to ask if Senator Clinton was aware of, and supported their efforts. First, PUMA's claim, clearly contradicted by today's FEC filing: (from Reason.com, via Kevin at Rumproast)

We at JustSayNoDeal.com, we started an initiative before the Fourth of July to raise money to put down her debt. And within that week leading up to the Fourth of July we raised approximately $10 million. Our most conservative estimates have it at six million but we're looking more at $10 million. Our sources tell us that the debt is now less than $5 million from being in the black... we believe that by this weekend that Hillary's debt will be finished.

According to the FEC, Clinton only raised $2.7 million in June, vs. $5.4 million in new spending. A spokesperson for the Clinton campaign had this to say:

As far as we know, that $10 million is a fallacy. We have not seen that money. It is our understanding that these groups provide links to our website, and there is no way to track which sites those donations come from. We have received no donations from the PAC.

Update: The above quote was made on the record by an official Clinton campaign spokesperson. I didn't name the spokesperson because it is accepted practice not to, and to protect the spokesperson from being spammed. This was done at my discretion, not at the spokesperson's request. My editors have full access to all of my sourcing information.

Wow, if I was a PUMA, I'd want to know where my money was going.

Well, surely, Senator Clinton appreciates these groups' efforts on her behalf, right?

We oppose any effort that doesn't support a Democratic victory in the fall, including PUMA.

Ouch! In my talks with various PUMA leaders, many of them have said, "Well, Hillary hasn't told me to stop." Well, she has now.

As I've said before, there are reasons to vote for McCain, and reasons not to, but being a true Hillary Clinton supporter would seem to fall into the latter category.

Update: 7 pm - I had a brief chat with PUMA founder Will Bower. Actually, we talked for awhile. His reaction to the Clinton campaign's statement?

On fundraising - "The conservative estimate was $6 million, and that was based on numbers going into the July 4th weekend. From sources within the campaign."

On Hillary not supporting PUMA: "She's keeping her promise. We respect that and understand it, but we're voters and we have our own decisions to make."

So your loyalty to Hillary Clinton stops at the voting booth? - "At voting for Senator Obama."

He stressed that his main problem is with the DNC, but that he doesn't "appreciate Obama as a candidate."

Just to clarify, although the FEC filing was for June, the Clinton spokesperson received my question last week, and had specifically checked on donations from PUMA.