Hillary Clinton Raising Money in Texas: San Antonio Fundraiser

Hillary Clinton in San Antonio

Web Posted: 03/16/2007 10:59 PM CDT

Greg Jefferson
Express-News Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will stop here today to raise money for her presidential bid, and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is to follow Monday with the same aim.

To the surprise — maybe consternation, if they're Clinton supporters — of some San Antonio Democrats, former Mayor Henry Cisneros announced his endorsement of Richardson in a letter to drive donors to his fundraiser.

Cisneros served as secretary of Housing and Urban Development in former President Clinton's first term, and has maintained ties with the couple.

But Cisneros said he's been a friend and supporter of Richardson since he first campaigned for a New Mexico congressional seat, and that he has to support a Hispanic leader trying to make it to the White House.

In his letter, he sang Richardson's praises, noting his stints as U.S. ambassador to the United Nation and as energy secretary.

The fundraiser is set for 6 p.m. Monday at the Plaza Club.

"I'm very proud of the fact that he's the first Latino to be running for president," Cisneros said in a phone message, left in response to a reporter's call. "He therefore deserves the support of those of us who have argued that this day will come. I am very loyal to President Clinton, obviously, and to Hillary. But I have explained to both of them, in person, my support for Gov. Richardson at this stage in the contest."

With the start of the Democratic primaries looming in January, Richardson is far behind Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama in most polls.

"My hope is that he will do well, and at least emerge at the level of a serious vice presidential contender all the way up to the (2008 Democratic National Convention)," Cisneros said.

County Judge Nelson Wolff believes Richardson would make a strong running mate — for Clinton.

Wolff is endorsing the New York senator and is part of the host committee for her afternoon fundraiser at the home of trial lawyer Pat Maloney Jr.

Maloney said he got to know the Clintons during their swings through San Antonio working on Democrat George McGovern's 1972 campaign against President Nixon.

Wolff met Sen. Clinton when he was San Antonio's mayor and she was lining up support for her husband's 1992 presidential campaign. Cisneros, he said, introduced them.

"I'm impressed with her tenacity and toughness, and she's in the middle — that's where the country needs to be," Wolff said.