Clinton team tries to fill money gap

Once the leading fundraiser among presidential candidates, with a $100-million war chest, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday that she had lent her campaign $5 million, and aides confirmed that some of her top staff members were currently working without pay.

The day after Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois fought to a draw in the Super Tuesday elections, Clinton attempted to narrow a growing gap between the two candidates' fundraising.

After entering 2008 with slightly more money than Clinton, Obama raised $32 million in January -- more than twice what Clinton raised. On Wednesday, he announced he had raised an additional $5.2 million since the polls closed Tuesday -- money that is expected to go toward television advertising in the remaining primary states.

At a news conference in Virginia, Clinton said she used "my money" to loan herself the $5 million. Later, communications director Howard Wolfson said the $5 million came from joint assets she held with former President Clinton.

The New York senator has written books that have earned her at least $6.6 million. But much of her wealth appears to have come from her husband's business dealings since he left the White House seven years ago.

In her most recent financial disclosure, Clinton reported a joint bank account and a blind trust each worth between $5 million and $25 million. She also disclosed that former President Clinton had earned millions in speaking fees -- as much as $350,000 a speech.

The former president has worked as an advisor to Los Angeles billionaire Ron Burkle, one of the biggest fundraisers for both Clintons. The former president has indicated he is severing his business relationship with Burkle, though there has been no formal announcement. There has been widespread speculation that Clinton stands to leave with upward of $20 million.

In announcing the loan Wednesday, Sen. Clinton said: "We had a great month fundraising in January -- broke all records. But my opponent was able to raise more money. We intended to be competitive, and we were -- and I think the results last night proved the wisdom of my investment."

Clinton ended 2007 having out-raised Obama, $118.3 million to $103.8 million. But that edge was short-lived.

At the beginning of the campaign, Clinton transferred $10 million from her U.S. Senate campaignaccount. She raised more by tapping high-end donors who gave her not only the $2,300 limit for the primary but additional money for use in the general election.