Date:26/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/26/stories/2008062655611400.htm

International

Obama pitches in for Hillary

WASHINGTON: Senator Barack Obama has asked his finance team to help Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton pay off a debt of at least $10 million from her failed presidential campaign, setting the stage for joint appearances by the two former rivals later in the week.

In a teleconference with his fundraisers on Tuesday, Mr. Obama asked them to do what they could to help Ms. Clinton. A campaign spokesman confirmed that Mr. Obama had asked them to help Ms. Clinton.

“Some of our donors have asked and Barack said if they have the ability to raise or give money to help on debt, we encourage them to do so,” said spokesman Robert Gibbs.

Mr. Obama’s green light came two days before he and Ms. Clinton were scheduled to meet in Washington with some of her top fundraisers in a show of unity after their bruising contest for the Democratic presidential nomination. — AP