Die-hard donors fuel Clinton's campaign
They give -- in small amounts, but over and over -- to ensure a strong finish, or even victory.
Ann Bagnell has dipped into her wallet for Hillary Clinton more than a dozen times since the start of the year. And she's not about to stop now -- even as the New York senator's chances of winning the Democratic presidential nomination hang by a thread.
''The chances are slim,'' Bagnell, 58, of Williams Township, acknowledged last week after sending off another $50 contribution. ''I guess I feel that I don't quite understand the rush to say that she should quit if she wants to continue to run.''
While many political observers write the Clinton candidacy's obituary, her regular contributors in the Lehigh Valley are reading from a different book, one that points to her never-give-up attitude as reason to believe she still has a shot. And they are continuing to reach into their bank accounts to try to prove she's right.
''Her chances have dwindled,'' said Robert Beers, 39, who owns a hair salon in Emmaus. ''However, we are talking Hillary Clinton here.''
Beers said he awoke Wednesday morning ''incredibly disappointed'' by Clinton's blowout loss to Barack Obama in North Carolina and close win in Indiana. But he decided to step up his giving -- he sent a donation for $250 Thursday after giving in $25-$50 increments in previous months -- after watching Clinton on TV at a fundraiser in Washington Wednesday night.
''I thought, 'You know what? There is still hope,''' he said. ''I reconfigured my thoughts. I saw that same woman that has been counted out several times.''
It's unclear to what extent the dogged optimism of Bagnell and Beers is representative of Clinton supporters nationwide. The campaign, far from rolling in the dough, needed an infusion of $6.4 million in loans from Clinton to stay competitive over the past month.
A campaign spokesman said the campaign has received more than $1 million in donations since Tuesday night, but nothing close to the $10 million it took in within a day of her primary win in Pennsylvania last month.
''We continue to raise money at a strong clip,'' said spokesman Isaac Baker. ''We have the resources we need to compete in the upcoming contests.''
Trailing Obama by roughly 160 delegates, Clinton is unlikely to narrow the gap significantly in the six remaining contests. She is banking on the Democratic National Committee reinstating the delegates from Florida and Michigan -- two states where Clinton won but whose results were nullified as punishment for scheduling their primaries too early -- to help her narrow Obama's lead and at the same time convince uncommitted superdelegates that she's a better general election candidate.
Some supporters appear to care less about whether Clinton can still pull off a victory and more about letting the primary campaign continue through June 3, the last date on the calendar.
''Whether it is winnable or not I don't know at this point, but I am certainly supporting her. I am in it for the long haul,'' said Marlene Eldridge, a retired school psychologist from Forks Township who gave the campaign $150 last week, one of at least a half-dozen contributions since the campaign began. ''By letting the process play out, it helps resolve things. If they cut it off too soon, people will be angry.''
She added: ''I always live in hope, but do I see the handwriting on the wall? I do.''
Deborah Davis, a professional cellist from Allentown whose two adult children support Obama, said the $50 she sent the Clinton campaign last week was probably her last contribution.
''It is a gamble to keep contributing, but it is a gamble I am willing to make because I really think she is the best candidate,'' said Davis, 56. ''Since it is not impossible, I just think it is worth a try.''
Ann Bagnell has dipped into her wallet for Hillary Clinton more than a dozen times since the start of the year. And she's not about to stop now -- even as the New York senator's chances of winning the Democratic presidential nomination hang by a thread.
''The chances are slim,'' Bagnell, 58, of Williams Township, acknowledged last week after sending off another $50 contribution. ''I guess I feel that I don't quite understand the rush to say that she should quit if she wants to continue to run.''
While many political observers write the Clinton candidacy's obituary, her regular contributors in the Lehigh Valley are reading from a different book, one that points to her never-give-up attitude as reason to believe she still has a shot. And they are continuing to reach into their bank accounts to try to prove she's right.
''Her chances have dwindled,'' said Robert Beers, 39, who owns a hair salon in Emmaus. ''However, we are talking Hillary Clinton here.''
Beers said he awoke Wednesday morning ''incredibly disappointed'' by Clinton's blowout loss to Barack Obama in North Carolina and close win in Indiana. But he decided to step up his giving -- he sent a donation for $250 Thursday after giving in $25-$50 increments in previous months -- after watching Clinton on TV at a fundraiser in Washington Wednesday night.
''I thought, 'You know what? There is still hope,''' he said. ''I reconfigured my thoughts. I saw that same woman that has been counted out several times.''
It's unclear to what extent the dogged optimism of Bagnell and Beers is representative of Clinton supporters nationwide. The campaign, far from rolling in the dough, needed an infusion of $6.4 million in loans from Clinton to stay competitive over the past month.
A campaign spokesman said the campaign has received more than $1 million in donations since Tuesday night, but nothing close to the $10 million it took in within a day of her primary win in Pennsylvania last month.
''We continue to raise money at a strong clip,'' said spokesman Isaac Baker. ''We have the resources we need to compete in the upcoming contests.''
Trailing Obama by roughly 160 delegates, Clinton is unlikely to narrow the gap significantly in the six remaining contests. She is banking on the Democratic National Committee reinstating the delegates from Florida and Michigan -- two states where Clinton won but whose results were nullified as punishment for scheduling their primaries too early -- to help her narrow Obama's lead and at the same time convince uncommitted superdelegates that she's a better general election candidate.
Some supporters appear to care less about whether Clinton can still pull off a victory and more about letting the primary campaign continue through June 3, the last date on the calendar.
''Whether it is winnable or not I don't know at this point, but I am certainly supporting her. I am in it for the long haul,'' said Marlene Eldridge, a retired school psychologist from Forks Township who gave the campaign $150 last week, one of at least a half-dozen contributions since the campaign began. ''By letting the process play out, it helps resolve things. If they cut it off too soon, people will be angry.''
She added: ''I always live in hope, but do I see the handwriting on the wall? I do.''
Deborah Davis, a professional cellist from Allentown whose two adult children support Obama, said the $50 she sent the Clinton campaign last week was probably her last contribution.
''It is a gamble to keep contributing, but it is a gamble I am willing to make because I really think she is the best candidate,'' said Davis, 56. ''Since it is not impossible, I just think it is worth a try.''
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