As calls mount for Hillary Clinton to consider a presidential bid in 2016, the newly retired secretary of state tonight quietly disbanded her 2008 campaign organization, Hillary Clinton for President, new documents filed with the Federal Election Commission indicate.
The committee termination filing follows Clinton recently paying off her final 2008 presidential campaign debts — in part with some help from President Barack Obama, the renting of supporters’ personal information and a bit of gimmickry.
Clinton’s campaign debt at one point exceeded $20 million, but by December, she had cleared her final obligations and actually ran a small surplus going into 2013, according to Hillary Clinton for President’s year-end campaign finance report, while it released late last month.
Even into January, the committee continued earning income from renting the personal information of its supporters to a political consulting firm, New York-based Lake Group Media, according to its termination filing.
Hillary Clinton for President on Jan. 31 transferred much of its surplus — $102,797 — to Friends of Hillary, the still-technically-active campaign committee Clinton used while she served in the U.S. Senate, documents show.
While Clinton may have shut down her 2008 presidential campaign committee, a pair of super PACs have formed in recent weeks intent on convincing her to again run for the White House in 2016. Clinton herself also has a new website.
Clinton has downplayed the possibility of another presidential bid, saying last week she’s “not inclined.” But she has not ruled one out.