Dec 12, 2007 8:05 pm US/Eastern
N.J. Fundraiser: Bill Subs For Hill
Sen. Clinton Gets Stuck In Iowa Due To Inclement Weather
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) ―
It's not often that Bill Clinton is relegated to the role of substitute, but the former president agreed to fill in Wednesday night at a New Jersey fundraiser his wife missed because of bad weather.
Hillary Rodham Clinton, campaigning in Iowa, was stranded in the Midwest by an ice storm and did not make the event at New Brunswick's State Theatre to hear Tony Bennett perform. Clinton decided against chancing a flight to New Jersey, knowing she had to be back in Des Moines early Thursday for a Democratic presidential debate at 2 p.m.
"It's a question of logistics," said John F.X. Graham, co-chair of Clinton's New Jersey finance committee. "If she got stuck here and missed the debate, it would be quite embarrassing."
The fundraiser raised more than $1 million -- even without the candidate.
Bill Clinton, in Philadelphia for a fundraiser Tuesday night, agreed early Wednesday to sub if his wife's plane was grounded. New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine and Sen. Robert Menendez, both Democrats, also attended, as did former New Jersey Gov. Jim Florio.
Corzine and Hillary Clinton were colleagues in the U.S. Senate before Corzine quit to become New Jersey governor two years ago. About 1,000 Clinton supporters bought tickets ranging from $100 to $2,300 to attend Wednesday's event.
In New Jersey, Clinton is far ahead of her nearest opponent, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, in her quest for the Democratic nomination, according to recent polls.
On the Republican side, polls give former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani a commanding lead over Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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