In a recent post, I analyzed Senator Clinton's debt situation as I understood it and continue to understand it. Subsequently, the Open Secrets.org sponsored by the Center for Responsive Politics, a web site that gathers publicly available information about candidates, policies and politics posted this information regarding the state of Senator Clinton's campaign finances. The Open Secrets website has made some people think that Senator Clinton's primary campaign debt has been retired. But to think this is to misunderstand the site.
The information at Open Secrets lumps together money raised for the general election and money raised for the primary campaign. Money raised for the general election cannot be used to pay off debt related to primary campaign expenditures. So though Senator Clinton appears to be in the black overall, she still needs to raise money to pay off debt from the primary season. This is why, I believe, Clinton campaign members continue to urge those who have not maxxed out to the primary (have not yet donated up to $2300 to the primary stage) to donate if they are able and willing to assist with paying down the debt.
Open Secrets only bases its reports on Federal Election Commission data. From the Open Secrets page discussing its coverage of Senator Clinton's campaign:
"NOTE: All the numbers on this page are for the 2008 election cycle and based on Federal Election Commission data released electronically on Monday, June 30, 2008."Open Secrets does not know how much money Senator Clinton has raised for retiring the debt so far during July. Neither do I. Even Senator Clinton's campaign accountants probably do not know because presumably donations are coming in as you read these words. Frustrating though it may be, people have to accept that there is a lag time between the figures reported to the FEC by all candidates from both major political parties and completely current information.
