When Edwards and Giuliani dropped out of the US Presidential race, it would be open season on their supporters who helped raise millions of dollars respectively for them in the previous year.
So far, the finance team of the Edwards campaign got splintered in a matter of hours between both US Democratic hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Both candidates are looking for the top fundraisers.
A good number of Giuliani’s fundraisers are hesitant to join another campaign.
“I’m distraught,” Richard Hug said. Hug is a major Republican fundraiser who helped raise tens of thousands of dollars for Rudy Giuliani in 2007. He added: “I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m probably just going to relax and stay out of politics.”
For those that supported Giuliani, they were convinced that he would surprise others by winning in Florida.
In the case of Edwards, supporters had discussed when he would give up his bid. So far, the top finance officials from the Clinton and Obama campaigns sought out to recruit Edwards’ supporters.
One example would be Deborah Rappaport, a San Francisco philanthropist who supported Edwards. She will now support Obama.
Mitchell Berger, a Florida trial lawyer who supported Gore in 2000 and Edwards in 2004 will also be joining Obama.
“That’s where I will be,” said Berger. He added: “The reason? John Edwards and Barack Obama completely agree on the institutional problems that exist in Washington.”
Others would get behind Clinton.
Outreach to Giuliani’s supporters on the Republican side by Mitt Romney and John McCain has been less organized.
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