By Brian C. Mooney, Globe Staff | January 26, 2007
By Brian C. Mooney, Globe Staff January 26, 2007
One of John F. Kerry's chief fund-raisers, Alan D. Solomont , said yesterday he has signed on to help the presidential campaign of Illinois Democrat Barack Obama despite his longstanding ties to another Democratic hopeful, Hillary Clinton of New York.
Solomont, who led a group that raised $35 million in New England alone for Kerry's unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2004, called Senator Clinton "an enormous talent who would be a terrific president," but said Obama, her Senate colleague, is "the sort of person America wants right now in the White House."
Solomont, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who lives in Weston, had been contacted by several candidates in the Democratic field with whom he has relationships; but he held off until Kerry announced this week that he would not run for president again. Solomont said he would help on Kerry's Senate reelection campaign next year.
One of the most prolific fund-raisers in the region, Solomont, by his own account, has "a long history with the Clintons," dating to 1992 when Bill Clinton won his first term as president. "I put my heart and soul into several Clinton campaigns," he said.
In 2000, President Clinton named Solomont to serve on the board of directors overseeing AmeriCorps and two other national service initiatives.
But Solomont said he has been deeply impressed by Obama, whom he first met in 2004, when the then-state senator from Chicago was seeking the US Senate seat. "What has impressed me is the excitement that his name and candidacy evokes in people who are not necessarily political junkies the way I am."
In 1997 and 1998, he was national finance chairman of the Democratic National Committee. This marks his sixth presidential campaign.
Solomont also has ties to other Democrats already in the race. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is a friend of many years, and Solomont was an enthusiastic supporter of Thomas J. Vilsack in both of his successful campaigns for governor of Iowa.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/26/with_kerry_out_key_aide_shifts_to_obama/
One of John F. Kerry's chief fund-raisers, Alan D. Solomont , said yesterday he has signed on to help the presidential campaign of Illinois Democrat Barack Obama despite his longstanding ties to another Democratic hopeful, Hillary Clinton of New York.
Solomont, who led a group that raised $35 million in New England alone for Kerry's unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2004, called Senator Clinton "an enormous talent who would be a terrific president," but said Obama, her Senate colleague, is "the sort of person America wants right now in the White House."
Solomont, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who lives in Weston, had been contacted by several candidates in the Democratic field with whom he has relationships; but he held off until Kerry announced this week that he would not run for president again. Solomont said he would help on Kerry's Senate reelection campaign next year.
One of the most prolific fund-raisers in the region, Solomont, by his own account, has "a long history with the Clintons," dating to 1992 when Bill Clinton won his first term as president. "I put my heart and soul into several Clinton campaigns," he said.
In 2000, President Clinton named Solomont to serve on the board of directors overseeing AmeriCorps and two other national service initiatives.
But Solomont said he has been deeply impressed by Obama, whom he first met in 2004, when the then-state senator from Chicago was seeking the US Senate seat. "What has impressed me is the excitement that his name and candidacy evokes in people who are not necessarily political junkies the way I am."
In 1997 and 1998, he was national finance chairman of the Democratic National Committee. This marks his sixth presidential campaign.
Solomont also has ties to other Democrats already in the race. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is a friend of many years, and Solomont was an enthusiastic supporter of Thomas J. Vilsack in both of his successful campaigns for governor of Iowa.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/26/with_kerry_out_key_aide_shifts_to_obama/
posted by presgore19 at 5:51 AM
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