August 14, 2008 - 4:21pm
News

The Group heads to Chicago on Monday

The big money Democratic Party fundraisers who backed Hillary Clinton in the primary but have now committed to supporting Barack Obama, accepted an invitation to fly out to Chicago Monday to sit down with Obama’s campaign manager.

There’s a Jersey connection there, as David Plouffe managed Bob Torricelli’s successful U.S. senate campaign in 1996.

Those members of the "Group" who plan to head to Obama’s Midwest base of operations for a three-hour confab include Zenon Christodoulou, Al DeCotiis, John Graham and William Harla.

"We were asked to come out by the campaign so that they could introduce us to all of the main people they want us to get to know in the head office," said Christodoulou.

Indefatigable, Graham said he intends to float Clinton’s name as a VP pick.

"I’m going to weigh in on it out there, definitely, it’s an unbeatable dream ticket," said Graham. "They put her on the ticket, they win this election hands down. It would make all our jobs easier in terms of fundraising. What Hillary does is she brings back women and middle America."

Whoever Obama picks ultimately, Graham and the Group are committed to a fall fundraising bash for the presumptive Democratic nominee.

"We’re going to finish the job," he said.

Max Pizarro is a PolitickerNJ.com Reporter and can be reached via email at max@politicsnj.com.

Comments

Are these jokers kidding me?


Obama has raised more money in the history of any person who has ever run for the presidency.

Do these idiots really take themselves this seriously?

They'll do for Obama what DeCotiis did for EnCap!

Vote Column A - All the way!

08/14/08 5:00 pm

Radioactive Grouping


Just what Obama needs, a group that is becoming increasingly radioactive with DeCotiis & Harla really deeply involved in the Encap mess. Obama needs these has beens like John Edwards needs a paternity test kit.

08/14/08 6:59 pm

Thank you for all you did!


Last year they tried to tell us they were very very important. (Through a direct connection to politics NJ) We didn't listen. It appears that this group needs lots of love and personal recognition. Someone please give them a special big hug.

08/14/08 9:27 pm

self-promotion


It seems that Christodoulou constantly leaks to Max Pizarro to promote himself and to a far lesser degree the "Group." Let's face it - that's what this is about - promoting himself (and to a far lesser degree the others) - not about Barack Obama or any other candidate. Max, get a grip please?!

08/15/08 11:08 am

Holdouts Cave - Minus the Turner One


So, Max . . . what happened to the other members of the group?  In your stories, you've cited at least eight members.  You cite four here -- Zenon Christodoulou, Al DeCotiis, John Graham and William Harla. 

What happened to the invitations to Michael Kempner, Reginald Jackson, and Mayor Meryl Frank of Highland Park?  Or did those three already scramble up and kiss the ring of the ONE?   These four were the holdouts, no?  This is really a story about the Johnnie come lately boys.

And, there was at least one more name as I recall . . . oh yes, here it is . . . the story about CarenTurner .  Hillraiser and member of The Group --  at lease according to Max:
 

Turner, a Hillraiser who worked as part of the powerhouse New Jersey fundraising arm called the Group, was among those Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) holdouts who yesterday took part in a feel-out session with a surrogate of Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ).

And, what happened to John Graham's shrill and defiant insistence that Hillary at least be offered the VP selection, or he was a no-go?  Back off that one did he? 

From one of Max's stories:

"If I don’t see the respect for Hillary Clinton, I will vote for him, but will I be a proactive person? No," said John Graham, national co-chair of fund-raising for the Clinton campaign and one of the money men in that small and powerful circle of Clinton fundraisers in New Jersey known as "The Group."

"Respect is offering her the position with her right of taking it or not taking it," Graham explained. "He can win without her, but Hillary in the picture gives him Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida."

Backing down like he did from that sure doesn't sound like "indefatigable" to me. Sounds more like "backdownable."

And just think about it.  Just a little over one year ago, most of these folks were busy raising money for Mark Warner to run for President.  Kinda makes you think they really don't have much in the way of personal loyalty, but instead they want some things. 

I wonder what those things are?

Of course, raising money for candidates is a business in itself.  I wonder what percentage of the money they raise goes in their own pockets?

by Trochilus

08/15/08 1:03 pm