"Clinton visit won't be free to public"

Seattle P-I:

The presidential hopeful who leads in every national Democratic poll as well as in fundraising is the only top-tier contender who has yet to visit Washington state as a candidate.

Sen. Hillary Clinton is finally stopping in Seattle on Monday, though, for an overnight visit and is appearing at no free public events. She will address the state Democratic Party's annual Magnuson Awards ceremony at Benaroya Hall and then raise campaign money at two private, $2,300-a-head events.

One will be a dinner Monday evening at the Laurelhurst home of businessman Stan Barer and the other a breakfast Tuesday at the Westin Bellevue Hotel.

The New York senator is the leading presidential fundraiser nationally. But wooing in person is the best way to open checkbooks of campaign contributors, that might help explain why, in raising money from this state, she trails two presidential rivals who have spent time in Seattle courting local Democrats.

Clinton doesn't lack for big-name backers here. Her state campaign co-chairmen are Rep. Jay Inslee, former Gov. Gary Locke and King County Executive Ron Sims.

But according to the Web site opensecrets.org, Sen. Barack Obama has raised far more campaign dollars in Washington state than any presidential contender of either party. His financial support here exceeds that of former Sen. John Edwards and Clinton combined and amounts to 29 percent of all state money given to all candidates of both parties.

Obama has raised $1.06 million, Edwards $548,000 and Clinton $470,000 from Washingtonians so far.

Obama, Edwards and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson have all stopped in the Seattle area to campaign or raise money.

So have four Republican presidential hopefuls: former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul. Sen. John McCain has scheduled and twice canceled visits this year because of the press of Senate business.

Clinton last visited Seattle in February 2006 for two fundraising events before she formally joined the presidential race. One was for Sen. Maria Cantwell's re-election campaign and the other for Clinton's own Senate re-election campaign, which brought her more than $100,000.

Howie P.S.: The Bothell Times hasn't even noticed that Hillary is on her way here.