MSNBC anchor Andrea Mitchell drilled a Hillary Clinton spokesman on Wednesday over whether the campaign was strapped for cash as Clinton faces a strong Democratic primary challenge from socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.).
Mitchell asked Brian Fallon why Clinton is doing a fundraiser in Philadelphia in the critical final days before the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 1. Clinton was originally slated to also have one in New York, but The Intercept reported that had been postponed until Feb. 16.
Mitchell noted Clinton trails Sanders in a Quinnipiac Iowa poll, suggesting Clinton might be "cutting it a little close."
"Does she need the money because it's now going to be a longer race than she had anticipated?" Mitchell asked.
"Oh, we've always planned for a long race, Andrea, and I don't think we're going to have any problem raising the resources we need to contest this nomination as far as it goes, but there's also going to be other meetings that will probably be read out later in the day that she's doing today," Fallon said. "But, so, it's not all fundraising, Andrea. But yeah, the realities of fundraising are what they are, but we're ready for a long nomination fight, if necessary, but she's still in Iowa every day this week."
"Other meetings in Iowa?" Mitchell asked.
"Other meetings with important voters and leaders that will be important parts of our support base in the coming months," Fallon said.
"Any new endorsements?" Mitchell asked.
"We'll see," Fallon said.
Full exchange:
ANDREA MITCHELL: Why is she going to east to raise money at this critical time? Five days out, I know she's going back to Iowa, she's there now, but she's going to Philadelphia. She's got two fundraisers, one in Philly and one in New York, unless something's being canceled. So, she's coming back for Thursday night in Iowa. Isn't that cutting it a little close? She's behind in the Quinnipiac.
BRIAN FALLON: There's no one that has more stamina on the campaign trail than Hillary Clinton. She can fit a lot into a day, and she's going to be in Iowa every day this week doing public events in Iowa every day. She will be--
MITCHELL: But does she need the money because it's now going to be a longer race than she had anticipated?
FALLON: Oh, we've always planned for a long race, Andrea, and I don't think we're going to have any problem raising the resources we need to contest this nomination as far as it goes, but there's also going to be other meetings that will probably be read out later in the day that she's doing today. But, so, it's not all fundraising, Andrea. But yeah, the realities of fundraising are what they are, but we're ready for a long nomination fight, if necessary, but she's still in Iowa every day this week. So, I don't think --
MITCHELL: What other meetings --
FALLON: I don't think we're surrendering anything in terms of her outreach to Iowa voters.
MITCHELL: Other meetings in Iowa?
FALLON: Other meetings with important voters and leaders that will be important parts of our support base in the coming months.
MITCHELL: Any new endorsements?
FALLON: We'll see.
MITCHELL: Well, she's clearly, right now, she's at a bowling alley --
FALLON: I know Bernie Sanders is in Washington today meeting with President Obama, but to me, again, the most important meeting for his campaign is the one where they're apparently making a final decision on whether to cut this negative ad. I hope he rejects his consultant's advice.