Vendors to Clinton: Don't Be a Deadbeat

Hillary Clinton’s campaign is earning a deadbeat reputation among some campaign vendors, reports Politico. To keep pace with Obama and maintain reserves for future media buys and events, it has put off paying hundreds of bills, leaving many—mostly small and local—businesses grousing. Clinton ended February with $16 million in primary funds, including $5 million of her own money, and $8.7 million in unpaid bills.

Obama, in contrast, had $31 million for pre-general election campaigning and $625,000 in unpaid bills. Clinton’s “campaign pays its bills regularly and in the normal course of business, and pays all of its bills,” says a campaign spokesman. But vendors, from high-priced consultants to small town grocery stores, report a lag in payment; Clinton reported 700 individual debts at the end of February. (More Clinton 2008 stories.)