Ready or not, here comes Hillary.
Clinton will today make official what for months — even years — has seemed inevitable: that she’ll again run for president.
All the while, a small political industry materialized around the Democrat’s expected bid, including more than a dozen pro- and anti-Clinton super PACs that together have raised millions of dollars off her (until now) non-candidacy.
But the story of Clinton cash is as old as the Clinton political dynasty that began with husband Bill’s election to the White House in 1992. Here’s more about the former first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state who could become the first woman to lead the nation:
- Wall Street hearts Hillary: Employees of giant financial firms represented five of Clinton’s top 10 contributors during her 2008 presidential run.
- Hillary Clinton’s top 2008 presidential donors generally came from four places: K Street, Park Avenue, Broadway and a certain neighborhood where Brenda, Brandon, Kelly and Dylan grew up during the 1990s.
- Most presidential candidates get much more money from men than women. For Hillary Clinton in 2008, she received slightly more from women than men, according to Center for Responsive Politics estimates.
- In May 2008, right before Hillary Clinton suspended her presidential bid, her campaign had $22.5 million in debt — more than half owed to Clinton herself.
- Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign paid off its massive debts through a variety of efforts, from peddling leftover trinkets to rentingthe personal information of its supporters. It finally cleared its debts in 2013.
- In 2013, a New York City businessman pleaded guilty to illegally supporting Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign with more than $608,000 in campaign services.
- If it wasn’t for Hillary Clinton, the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case, which turned campaign finance law inside out, would not have likely come before the Supreme Court.
- What’s in a name? 14 federally registered political committees contained “Hillary” in their name last year. Just two of them — the Clinton surrogate-led Ready for Hillary super PAC and anti-Clinton Stop Hillary PAC — raised significant money.
- That time scammers looking to make a quick buck traded on Hillary Clinton’s name as part of a shady super PAC.
- Donors to the Clinton Foundation include some of the nation’s most notable liberal political donors, such as Fred Eychaner and Steven Spielberg, as well as numerous corporations and foreign governments.
- As of 2012, Hillary Clinton’s final full year as secretary of state, the Center for Responsive Politics estimated her net worth at about $15.3 million.
- In July, Hillary Clinton got $275,000 to speak at the University at Buffalo
Sources: Center for Public Integrity reporting, as well as the Center for Responsive Politics, ClintonFoundation.org, Federal Election Commission, Washington Post and U.S. Senate.