Jeremyk
August 1st, 2007, 10:41 AM
From today's Politicial Insider in the Jersey Journal:
Hillary in Newport; and the rally that wasn't
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Hillary Clinton showed up Monday at a fundraising event at the Newport Financial Center on the Jersey City waterfront and came away with $150,000 for her presidential bid. City Councilman Steve Fulop came out of the event with some new respect from Clinton's New Jersey Democratic Party apparatchik and he came away with some valuable lessons about how to run these big money events.
"I'm not expecting any favors from these people in 2008 or 2009," said Fulop. "I get to see how these fundraising events are put together, and I just believe it is a good thing for Jersey City to get involved."
It was also good for Fulop. It did not hurt that Hillary backer Gov. Jon Corzine was present and took notice of the councilman's effort. U.S. Rep. Albio Sires, of West New York, who had to take heed of rumors that Fulop is interested in his job, attended and introduced the governor at the fundraising event where donators received champagne, Perrier water, and an assortment of pretzels, potato chips and trail mix to go with their photo-op with the Democratic presidential hopeful.
Others present included Jersey City Councilwoman Mary Spinello, former city Councilman Joe Rakowski, Hudson County Freeholder Maurice Fitzgibbons, Kearny Mayor Al Santos, and other officials. Fulop's new partner in politics, Jersey City Heights' James Carroll, attended with his family.
Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, who is a coordinator in Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's Jersey campaign, did not show as head of the city or as chairman of Hudson County Democratic Organization. Then again, neither did the Hudson County contingent, including Executive Tom DeGise or his chief of staff, city Heights Councilman Bill Gaughan. Not that there was a requirement.
With the big help of Jaime LeFrak, of the Queens-based Lefrak Organization, which is developing the Newport section of the city, Fulop co-hosted the Clinton event. The councilman also envisioned a much bigger event.
Having researched in the city library historic visits by future and actual presidents, Fulop may have been hoping to simulate the famous John F. Kennedy rally at Journal Square and place Clinton on a list of presidential hopefuls and national chief executives who have stopped in Jersey City, including Woodrow Wilson and Abe Lincoln.
Then again, another spin by a Newport group that has been at odds with Fulop suggests that it was not Fulop's idea for the rally but LeFrak's, from his experience with previous Newport rallies for Corzine. They said that it was all Newport's diverse community that came out to welcome Hillary Clinton.
A large public rally for Hillary was set for 5:30 p.m., after the session with big donators. She would have walked out the back of the center and onto a stage at the Newport Town Square for a speech.
The security for the event was a nightmare to plan. According to those involved in the planning, Secret Service did not say where the stage would be set until the last moment. Snipers were present, even after the public rally was canceled.
Word among organizers and local Democrats is that the kibosh on the rally came the day of the event from state and national Democratic leaders. It seemed to many involved in the planning that the decision was more political than for scheduling and security reasons. Then again, she was late to Newport.
When Clinton left the fundraiser, she was obviously surprised by the large turnout that waited outside for her and she shook hands along metal barriers asking about who made the wrong decision to not hold the rally. The adoring mob scene would have been well received by her campaign, and they would have received prime time news coverage. The feeling was that someone blundered, but it was difficult to assess who to blame.
Locally, the finger was pointed at several suspects. Draw your Obama-influenced conclusions.
Hillary in Newport; and the rally that wasn't
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Hillary Clinton showed up Monday at a fundraising event at the Newport Financial Center on the Jersey City waterfront and came away with $150,000 for her presidential bid. City Councilman Steve Fulop came out of the event with some new respect from Clinton's New Jersey Democratic Party apparatchik and he came away with some valuable lessons about how to run these big money events.
"I'm not expecting any favors from these people in 2008 or 2009," said Fulop. "I get to see how these fundraising events are put together, and I just believe it is a good thing for Jersey City to get involved."
It was also good for Fulop. It did not hurt that Hillary backer Gov. Jon Corzine was present and took notice of the councilman's effort. U.S. Rep. Albio Sires, of West New York, who had to take heed of rumors that Fulop is interested in his job, attended and introduced the governor at the fundraising event where donators received champagne, Perrier water, and an assortment of pretzels, potato chips and trail mix to go with their photo-op with the Democratic presidential hopeful.
Others present included Jersey City Councilwoman Mary Spinello, former city Councilman Joe Rakowski, Hudson County Freeholder Maurice Fitzgibbons, Kearny Mayor Al Santos, and other officials. Fulop's new partner in politics, Jersey City Heights' James Carroll, attended with his family.
Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, who is a coordinator in Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's Jersey campaign, did not show as head of the city or as chairman of Hudson County Democratic Organization. Then again, neither did the Hudson County contingent, including Executive Tom DeGise or his chief of staff, city Heights Councilman Bill Gaughan. Not that there was a requirement.
With the big help of Jaime LeFrak, of the Queens-based Lefrak Organization, which is developing the Newport section of the city, Fulop co-hosted the Clinton event. The councilman also envisioned a much bigger event.
Having researched in the city library historic visits by future and actual presidents, Fulop may have been hoping to simulate the famous John F. Kennedy rally at Journal Square and place Clinton on a list of presidential hopefuls and national chief executives who have stopped in Jersey City, including Woodrow Wilson and Abe Lincoln.
Then again, another spin by a Newport group that has been at odds with Fulop suggests that it was not Fulop's idea for the rally but LeFrak's, from his experience with previous Newport rallies for Corzine. They said that it was all Newport's diverse community that came out to welcome Hillary Clinton.
A large public rally for Hillary was set for 5:30 p.m., after the session with big donators. She would have walked out the back of the center and onto a stage at the Newport Town Square for a speech.
The security for the event was a nightmare to plan. According to those involved in the planning, Secret Service did not say where the stage would be set until the last moment. Snipers were present, even after the public rally was canceled.
Word among organizers and local Democrats is that the kibosh on the rally came the day of the event from state and national Democratic leaders. It seemed to many involved in the planning that the decision was more political than for scheduling and security reasons. Then again, she was late to Newport.
When Clinton left the fundraiser, she was obviously surprised by the large turnout that waited outside for her and she shook hands along metal barriers asking about who made the wrong decision to not hold the rally. The adoring mob scene would have been well received by her campaign, and they would have received prime time news coverage. The feeling was that someone blundered, but it was difficult to assess who to blame.
Locally, the finger was pointed at several suspects. Draw your Obama-influenced conclusions.