Will Barack Obama help pay off Hillary Clinton's election debts?

Hey coolcraft, I know there is a limit of just 90 characters, but it would be even more fascinating to have some options like... in an apparent quid pro quo for endorsement, or following joining the ticket as VP candidate or something like that.

you honestly think she would endorse him.... and I doubt he will pick her for his VP...he and I will be happy to simply get rid of her

So if you don't think she will endorse or be his VP pick, what possible reason is there for him to pay off her campaign debts?? I don't get it. It seems like initial odds should be like .0000000001% yes, not 50%. Is there some reason to think he would offer to do that?

I think the only way to get rid of her is to pay her off...the superdelegates have not got the moxie to get rid of her .... the Clintons never spend their own money on anything and I think she wants her debts paid off...but I do not think he will pay her debts but I believe that is what she wants

GREAT QUESTION!!! The advantage of "paying her off" (probably some significant amount less than her total debt) is that it might cost less than fighting her to the end. It would also lessen the possibility of the Clintons finding more skeletons in his closet. It would also allow him to focus his time and resources planning for the general election.

I'm wagering "NO" but this is certainly a fascinating idea.

HOLY COW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/09/obama-wont-rule-out-easing-clinton-campaign-debt/

"Speculation has spread – by supporters of both candidates – about whether Mr. Obama throwing a financial lifeline would help bridge the divide between the partisans and offer Mrs. Clinton an exit strategy."

Jenni I agree with your assessment that the likilihoods are way off. First the way the question is worded makes it seem as if Obama would pay them himself, which is not possible. So as far as that is concerned the chances are 0%. Now if the question was whether he would help her raise money to pay off the debts, that would be more like a 5% chance. I think the question needs voided for several reasons. Initial starting odds were way off. The question wording makes impossible for one of the options to occur.

The question is perfect. This is done all the time, it just doesn't usually hit the press.

I'm betting a big yes.

i'm in the camp of this question is plain wacky, and the odds shoulda been differnt to begin with. i'm guessing owl1 has been invovled in getting many major-national canidates elected. he says.."This is done all the time, it just doesn't usually hit the press" must have first hand knowledge. goodluck all betters.

McCain helps former rival retire debt
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/04/14/mccain_helps_former_rival_retire_debt/8092/

Sen. Clinton To Pay Off Vilsack's Campaign Debt
http://www.kcci.com/politics/11407584/detail.html?rss=des&psp=news

Hillary hanging out for a VP slot, or a payday?
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/05/08/hillary-hanging-out-for-a-vp-slot-or-a-payday/

Obama Won’t Rule Out Easing Clinton Campaign Debt
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/09/obama-wont-rule-out-easing-clinton-campaign-debt/

Obama suggests offer maybe Clinton can’t refuse
http://www.hillaryproject.com/index.php?/en/story-details/obama_suggests_offer_maybe_clinton_cant_refuse/

From recent campaign history this practice seems to happen very often. Also allot more pundits are talking about the possibility of this. 50% odds are kind of high (I would have given 40%), but its common practice, and with dwindling pundit and superdelegate support this is fair. I do agree though that the market needs some clarification, I'll add in some more settlement details so that the market is clearer.

Cheers,

Ryan
Hubdub US Politics Content Editor

Question.... does it his efforts to help have to pay off all of the debt or just a percentage? If just a percentage is given, is there a cut off level where the question would be answered no? For example he shows up at one fund raiser and raises 20% of the total debt would that be considered a YES?

great picture!

I can only hope Obama wins the nomination, it will be WAY easier for McCain that way. Over the past few weeks I've even started to like Clinton's stance on a few things, and I never thought I'd see the day...

no one I know is voting for McCain...and everyone I know hates Clinton...a different view than yours

Hmmmm....McCain vs. socialism...is it really a tough call?

Hmm McCain = corporate Socialism, not a tough call at all.

In the news today...

"That is a normal thing when a candidate finishes a race and loses, the winning candidate would try to help if there's some debt that's been incurred,"

However, the same article says that by law, Obama can't write a large check to her, but his donors can help. So, if it is Obama's donors or the democratic party that constitute a "yes" that Obama helped?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080513/ap_on_el_pr/clinton_debt

One way to help her pay off her debt is to sponsor a fundraiser- dinner or breakfast typically - where she will be the featured speaker. This could totally happen with her speaking on healthcare. It's not that he's actually paying money to her, he's lending his drawing power to her own to get her a paying audience. She headlines, speaks about the importance of healthcare, education, etc. and introduces him. Or he introduces her. Either way, he's lending his personality to get her a paying audience.

I don't know if the coolkraft was thinking this way when he authored the question... or whether it's a legitimate way to settle the market... but it's definitely not out of the question, and very much in the realm of possibility.

jamalpeter (Wash. D.C.)

coolkraft is a she.....

My apologies to you, Coolkraft. -Jamal

no problem jamal,,u had no way of knowing

I do not know how to get the quoted news on here... Ben Smith of Politico said Obama asked his top donors to help Clinton retire 10 million of campaign debt. Obama said if folks are inclined they ought to give what they could...and of course (my thought) Clinton will happily and enthusiastically campaign for Obama...not too sure about Bill Clinton tho...he is still smarting

so to my question Obama is helping Hillary pay off her debts....

@ coolkraft -- what you do is copy the url from the major mainstream news source you read/found, then click on the "Request Settlement" link (under the "Yes/No" above), and paste that url (link) into the "settlement request" box -- along with a few words indicating the outcome you think your news article supports.

BTW, you can also copy/paste a news article url into questions you create -- which will provide background info for other users to easily find, as well as, hopefully, give support to the starting odds you have selected for your question.

If any of this isn't clear, just ask, and someone will try to assist by explaining it differently ;-)

I submitted a couple of sources. We should be hearing "YES" soon.

thank you newswrangler...appreciate your help