Key Puerto Rican Hillraiser Defects to Obama over Tone Updated w/ Quote
Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 11:32:29 AM PDT
This doesn't bode well for Hillary's future prospects. I'd call this quite a Crack in Hillary's Ship.
NBC News has learned that a major fundraiser for Hillary Clinton, former [Clinton Administration] Amb. to Chile Gabriel Guerra-Mondragon is leaving the campaign to join up Barack Obama's campaign. Officially dubbed a "Hillraiser," Guerra-Mondragon raised nearly $500,000 for Clinton's campaign, according to some estimates. He has been informing people inside Clintonworld this week in what's been described as some tough conversations. A formal announcement of a role for Guerra-Mondragon on Obama's national finance committee will be made next week.
Ouch, this has really got to hurt. A Hillraiser who had pull upwards of $500k, going to the other side? Will he bring his money people and supporters over too? First Read has an insight.
In addition, Guerra-Mondragon's defection could serve as a tipping point with some key Hispanic Democratic leaders that Obama is ready to start making a bigger effort to court Hispanics.
This could resonate in Puerto Rico. More on Gabriel Guerra-Mondragon
In addition to his foreign service experience, Ambassador Guerra-Mondragón is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations; a former member of the Puerto Rican Legal and Education Defense Fund; and a member of the Puerto Rico Bar Association.
He is the grandson of Miguel Guerra Mondragón, who was a very well-known local attorney and politician.
The reason for the defection is pretty clear.
Among the reasons for Guerra-Mondragon to defect, according to one informed source, was he was uneasy with the tone of the Clinton campaign and was beginning to worry about what this would mean for the general election.
The latest Rasmussen PA Poll certainly echos the effects of Hillary's Campaigning Strategy
What a difference two weeks of intense campaigning can make. The final two weeks of campaigning in the Pennsylvania Primary may not have changed the outcome of the Democratic race, but it helped John McCain in the Keystone State.
Two weeks ago, in Pennsylvania, Hillary Clinton enjoyed a nine-point lead over McCain and Barack Obama had an eight-point edge over the Republican hopeful. Now, however, Clinton’s lead is down to five points and Obama trails McCain by a point.
Democrats, even Hillary Supporters, have to wake up to the fact that this process is anything but helpful. And One wonders if these sorts of defections will begin to make a bigger splash in the news. There are Committed superdelegates, and then there are Hillraisers. I'd argue a Hillraiser is about as close to Hardcore as they come, and for such a high level prominent one to defect at this point, well, it doesn't bode well for Hillary... Not when Obama is essentially starting his General Election campaign by Registering Voters and Fundraising for the DNC. He'll also take on Fox News Sunday.
We are clear-eyed about Fox’'s role in the dissemination and amplification of Republican talking points this election. They have been the tip of the spear when it comes to repeatedly broadcasting some of the most specious of rumors about Obama. He is going on their Sunday show to take Fox on, not because we have any illusion about their motives or politics in this election.
Be sure to Tune In.
UPDATE: Gotta love this headline: A HILLARY FUNDRAISER JUMPS SHIP
"We're just bleeding each other out," Guerra-Mondragon said, when asked about the switch. "Looking at it as coldly as I can, I just don't see how Senator Clinton can overcome Senator Obama with delegates and popular votes. I want this fight to be over, the quicker the better."
Here's how he explained his decision: "I have found myself in a very difficult situation where you have two very good candidates, but one is ahead. That is Senator Obama. If I look at the remaining contests, beginning with North Carolina and Indiana, I just don't see how Senator Clinton can overcome Senator Obama with delegates and popular votes. I believe the superdelegates, it is going to be very difficult for the superdelegates not to give their vote to the one that has that lead."
Whether other HillRaisers will follow is unclear.
Clinton aides said they don't see Guerra-Mondragon's decision as foreshadowing any sort of mass migration.
We'll see about that one... And they paid off their March Bills... And they're in the "lead"... like I said, we'll see.
