Following Hillary's concession to Obama, I had a discussion with other kossacks about her offer to fundraise for Obama. I felt that her enthusiasm to fundraise for Obama was extended also because she would be able to keep a share to help settle her own debt.
It had been my impression that it is possible and customary for those raising the cash to take a percentage for themselves.
My assumption was disputed with the argument that money raised for a candidate must only go directly to that candidate.
Well, an article about Rudy Guiliani fundraising for McCain on Talking Points Memo answers the question (TPM in turn quotes New York Times):
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/...
http://www.nytimes.com/...
The two key quotes from the articles:
"former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani has offered to appear at fund-raisers around the country for G.O.P. candidates. But there is a catch: He wants some cash out of the deal. Mr. Giuliani’s aides have told the National Republican Congressional Committee and Congressional candidates that if he makes an appearance, he wants the candidates to help him get rid of his presidential campaign debt."
So the practice is not verboten as has been argued.
And then the part that is probably pressing to Hillary Clinton:
"Candidates generally have unlimited time to pay off campaign debt. But if any portion of a personal loan to a campaign is unpaid by the end of an election cycle, the maximum amount that can be repaid with money raised after that is $250,000, according to Bob Biersack, a spokesman for the Federal Election Commission."