An email released by WikiLeaks shows that for Bill Clinton, raising cash for the Clinton Foundation took "precedent" over helping Hillary's campaign fundraise at the end of 2015, sending her staff into a panic on how they would move forward on fundraising efforts.
Katie Dowd, the digital director for Clinton's campaign, sent an email on Oct. 25, 2015 to top Clinton aides discussing their upcoming digital and fundraising strategy they planned would largely revolve around a contest and email solicitations involving Bill Clinton.
"As you know our top ask continues to be and is the contest," Dowd wrote. "Tina - do you think there is any period of time where this would be possible? Or any more we can do to consider this?"
"In addition, we have several fundraising emails from now through the end of the year that we would like to send from WJC as his emails are doing tremendous. Fundraising asks would center particularly around upcoming debates & the very end-of-quarter in December. If OK, we will calendar out the asks for the next couple weeks and come back to you."
Two days later, Sara Latham, John Podesta's chief of staff, bumped the email expanding upon how important the contest was to the campaign.
Tina Flournoy, Bill Clinton's chief of staff, responded to Latham saying they do not like the idea of using Bill as part of a contest. Fundraising for the Clinton Foundation would also take "precedent" over Hillary's campaign, she said.
"Donna has nothing to do with that. None of us like it - as I keep saying," Fournoy said. "And yesterday, WJC told the Foundation folks that their social media asks for December would take priority."
Teddy Goff, a digital director at Hillary for America, informed Hillary's team that not doing a contest would be a "multi-million dollar decision" and could hurt the campaign's return on investment in the long run.
"And I'm not sure what to make of the 'priority' line in the second paragraph, he said. "Does that mean we get nothing? Let me know if I ought to be the one to push back or if you want to huddle to discuss next steps."
Hillary's campaign manager Robby Mook suggested having John (presumably John Podesta) speak to Bill Clinton's chief of staff.
However, Latham had already discussed the contest with Flournoy who said they did not like the idea because it could hurt Bill's brand.
Goff expressed disbelief over the situation.
"I don't understand why not dinner. This is something POTUS has done ten or twenty times as a sitting president," he said. "And I don't understand why the optics of hobnobbing with the rich and powerful are somehow better than the optics of sitting down with a few $5 donors. It seems like the latter is what we ought to be emphasizing, not running away from."
"They've historically always been careful about protecting his brand, have avoided auctioning off dinners w/him and in general don't contribute auction items/time with him to anything other than benefitting the foundation (with I'm sure, some exceptions)," Latham told Goff. "I think describing it as a quick meet & greet/photo will go further with them. We can build into a more meaningful exchange and package - attend event/signed copy of book/speech etc., on the road."
Dowd jumped back in and warned that not doing the contest would be a major setback in keeping pace with the grassroots efforts of Bernie Sanders. "Also - I have to say the last sentence from Tina is very alarming!!!!!" she said.
Goff complained that the campaign was being hit for not having enough young, grassroots donors but the "single best quiver in our arrow!" was being blocked.
Mook called for the group to gather and discuss a new plan.
In the short term, they would have to come up with an alternative to pitch Hillary, Mook said. In the long term, they had a "big problem" because their strategy was not sustainable. He suggested putting a memo together and speaking directly to Bill.
Clinton's campaign did not immediately return a request for comment on the ordeal.