Obamas cut check to help Clinton pay off debt

Obama, Clinton campaign together Friday
Clinton and Obama plan to appear together for the first time since the end of primary on Friday in symbolic Unity, N.H. — where each got 107 votes in the state's January primary. Clinton won New Hampshire in an upset that set the stage for their long campaign, and it is now a critical battleground for the general election.

Obama told reporters Wednesday that he thinks she'll be extraordinarily effective in speaking for his candidacy and he'd like her to campaign for him as much as she can. "I think we can send Senator Clinton anywhere and she'll be effective," Obama said.

But the extent of her travel for Obama is unclear. Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said Wednesday that they have not scheduled any events after New Hampshire. "We don't have any specific knowledge of her schedule past Friday," Plouffe said.

Three Clinton confidants — Cheryl Mills, Minyon Moore and Robert Barnett — are in talks with Obama's campaign to work out details of her future involvement, including travel, her role at the national convention and resolution of her debt. Part of their argument has been that Clinton can spend more time helping Obama if she isn't raising money to pay her bills.

Obama told reporters Wednesday he wouldn't send an e-mail asking his small-dollar contributors to donate to Clinton because "their budgets are tighter" and they probably couldn't make much of a dent.

One of the biggest outstanding questions is Bill Clinton's role. The former president issued a one-word statement through a spokesman Tuesday offering to help, but the two men have not yet spoken.

McAuliffe said he spent Monday with the former president, who said "he will do whatever is needed."

"He will go 24/7 if he has to," McAuliffe said. "He's willing to do whatever it takes. Winning the White House is of paramount importance, not only to Hillary but of course to President Clinton."

An Associated Press-Yahoo News poll out Thursday shows Obama has won over slightly more than half of Clinton's former supporters. About a quarter of Clinton's backers say they will support McCain over Obama.

Grilled on alleged sexism
Obama ended Thursday's meeting by taking a few questions from the group, according to attendees. He didn't answer a question about whether he would support putting Clinton's name in for a roll call vote at the convention, but promised she would play a prominent role in Denver.

He also sidestepped a question about whether she would join him on the ticket.

He was asked about "misogyny" in the campaign and said his wife, Michelle, was now experiencing it and that he was sensitive to it, attendees said. He said his 86-year-old grandmother had been very inspired by Clinton's historic run and that his daughters now don't think it's a big deal for a woman to be president.

Bernard Schwartz, a New York businessman and longtime Clinton donor, said Obama won his support.

"You know how it is when somebody says to you, I'll never forget my first love? Hillary was my first love, there's no question about that," Schwartz said as he left the meeting. "Am I going to be passionate for Obama, and can I say right now that I'm passionately supportive of Obama and passionately wish him to win? Absolutely without any equivocation."

Hannah Simone, a Washington energy lobbyist and top Clinton donor, said she entered the meeting undecided but is now ready to help. She can't donate herself because Obama does not accept lobbyists' money, but she said she'll start raising from others.

"It was a big step forward for some of us who were very passionate about her campaign," she said.

But some attendees left feeling that Obama didn't go much beyond his standard talking points, and could have done more to win over her supporters. They declined to quoted by name.

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