Clinton Holds Luncheon for Her Biggest Financial Backers
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As she considers a run for the presidency, Senator Clinton treated a few hundred of her biggest backers to a luncheon yesterday at Cipriani to say “thank you” for their support for her successful reelection campaign this year.
The event was not a fund-raiser, and attendees left carrying red ribbon-bound copies of Mrs. Clinton’s “It Takes a Village.” The book is a 10th anniversary edition of her 1996 best seller, and it includes a new introduction by the former first lady.
Mrs. Clinton has not formally declared her candidacy for the White House or created an exploratory committee, but the luncheon comes as she has been trying to line up support for a possible run with Democratic leaders in New York and in states where early primaries are held.
She offered little hint of her next move yesterday, people in attendance said. The event was closed to the press, and the senator left without speaking to reporters.
Mrs. Clinton spoke for a few minutes, but her only reference to 2008 was to say she appreciated the advice she was getting and was thinking about her future, attendees said. Among those who attended were President Clinton, the speaker of the City Council, Christine Quinn, the comedian Fran Drescher, and Reps. Anthony Weiner, Carolyn Maloney, and Jerrold Nadler.
Mrs. Clinton, who has had few public events since last month’s election, is appearing in Manhattan today with Ms. Maloney and Rep. Vito Fossella, a Republican of Staten Island, to discuss the federal government’s response to the health impacts of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
While many of the supporters leaving Cipriani praised her leadership qualities, not all were ready to commit to backing a Clinton presidential campaign. “I think it’s too early, but of course I think she has a good chance,” a documentary filmmaker, Joseph Lovett, said. But he added that if Mrs. Clinton did win, “I think she’d do a phenomenal job.”
A health care executive, Michael Weiner, didn’t hesitate to back Mrs. Clinton. “I’d support her if she ran for anything,” he said.
