Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 3, 1995 TAG: 9508030057
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The president agreed to attend two private dinners in the space of three hours, one to reward Democrats who have raised top dollar for the Clinton-Gore campaign, the other for a former rival who got out of the way.
Clinton's first scheduled stop was a $1,000-a-plate fund-raiser in McLean to help former Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder pay off a $140,000 campaign debt.
Wilder racked up the bills when he ran against Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992 and when he challenged Democratic Sen. Charles Robb as an independent in 1994.
Wilder agreed to drop out of the Senate race after a private meeting with Clinton, with all sides insisting there had been no quid pro quo.
Nonetheless, the White House was clearly grateful for Wilder's return to the Democratic Party, and Wilder was not afraid to ask for help.
``Governor Wilder has indicated himself that he traveled the country in support of President Clinton in 1992, supported him vigorously, and was not shy about asking for the president's assistance,'' said White House press secretary Mike McCurry.
An administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity was more succinct in explaining Clinton's decision to attend the dinner: ``We help our friends.''
Clinton's second scheduled stop was an intimate dinner at the posh Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington, the guest list limited to those who have raised substantial amounts for the Clinton-Gore campaign.
The campaign kicked off its fund-raising efforts this spring with a big direct-mail campaign and three $1 million dinners, hauling in an impressive $9.3 million during its first three months.
Since then, it has scheduled a series of smaller, private dinners, and plans five big events in September.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB