Sen. Hillary Clinton has agreed to help former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, who endorsed her Monday, pay off his $400,000 campaign debt. Clinton (D-N.Y.) will put the arm on her donor network for Vilsack, who quit the presidential race Feb. 23 citing financial difficulties.Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said it was a normal gesture to make and called suggestions of any endorsement quid pro quo "ridiculous." "One thing's got absolutely nothing to do with the other," he said. "They've known each other for years. If she weren't running for President, she'd be doing whatever she can to help retire his debt."
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Clinton has already run into problems with the appearance of buying endorsements. Right after she scored the politically important backing of South Carolina pastor and state Sen. Darrell Jackson, it emerged she had also hired him as a $10,000-a-month consultant. Rival Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) had offered him half that. It's an old political pitfall. In 2004, Democrat Howard Dean was accused of "buying" the endorsement of Carol Moseley Braun by giving her a $20,000-a-month travel budget.
Meanwhile, in other 2008 endorsement news, Obama picked up the backing of Sheila Johnson, the ex-wife of BET media pioneer Robert Johnson, who supports Clinton. She wouldn't say if her ex's choice made any role in her decision. And to no one's great surprise, Clinton - the front-runner to be first woman President - will be getting the official endorsement of the National Organization for Women today.