Hillary Clinton, Rick Lazio struggle for deal on soft money

From Phil Hirschkorn
CNN Producer

NEW YORK (CNN) -- First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rep. Rick Lazio , R-New York, are still struggling to reach a deal that would limit "soft money" advertising in their campaigns for a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Each has pledged to stop such spending on television and radio ads by political party committees and other independent groups. But they have not a signed an agreement and it is unclear if a solid deal is in place.

Earlier Friday, speaking before a fundraising breakfast in Westchester County, Mrs. Clinton said, "Today, I will urge the political parties supporting me not to buy any more soft money issue ads on TV or radio, as long as the parties and the groups helping my opponent don't buy any of those ads, either."

"All it will take to do this is one word from Mr. Lazio: Okay. So, how about it Mr. Lazio, okay?" she said.

Lazio campaign manager Bill Dal Col said the GOP candidate would abide by the deal his campaign drew up.

"We will live up to the agreement we put on the table and challenge her to do the same," said Dal Col in a Friday evening news conference. "Our ads will be down."

Dal Col said the ball is now in Clinton's court.

"We've got an agreement as far as we're concerned," he said.

Talk of 'wiggle room'

Thursday, the two campaign managers met face-to-face to discuss the possible ban. That followed Lazio's production Wednesday of signed letters from 14 conservative groups promising to refrain from such spending on his behalf.

Clinton had earlier named those groups, ranging from the American Conservative Union to the Republican National Committee, as spending soft money on Lazio's campaign.

More than $4 million has been spent in soft money and independent expenditures on the first lady's behalf. That's more than 10 times what has been spent on Lazio's behalf.

"I'm well aware as I read in the newspaper today that this will put my campaign at a disadvantage, but I'm willing to take that risk," Clinton told reporters.

Clinton campaign press secretary Cathie Levine said the first lady had proposed the ad ban because it was the most enforceable and verifiable part of the proposed soft money restrictions.

Soft money refers to the unlimited sums of money donated to political parties, which in turn can spend the funds on issue-oriented ads, direct mail, consultants, organizing, and get-out-the-vote efforts.

"While ads are the big issue, they are not the only issue," said Lazio spokesman Michael Marr. "I hope Mrs. Clinton is not trying to get some wiggle room here."

Competing offers termed 'double talk'

The campaigns had set a goal of reaching of agreement by Saturday night.

"We will expect that all radio and television advertisements paid in full or in part by soft money will stop running by Monday, September 25, 2000," Dal Col wrote to Clinton campaign chairman Bill De Blasio.

Dal Col wrote that it was his understanding the ban would include ads paid for by various Democratic party committees and "all other groups assisting Clinton's candidacy." In return, Dal Col wrote, "we will ensure that none of our affiliated groups run radio or television advertisements paid in full or in part by soft money."

But the Clinton campaign did not concur and seemed to take issue with the reference to "outside groups," such as labor unions, which are backing Clinton.

"This is very disappointing," said Clinton campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson.

"Hillary made a good faith offer this morning based on yesterday's negotiations. We hoped that Mr. Lazio would accept Hillary's offer. All he needed to say was one word -- OK -- but we got double talk instead. We're hoping he will reconsider," Wolfson said.

One sticking point for the Clinton campaign had been the reluctance of the New York Republican State Committee to sign the pledge to stay out of the race, but by Friday afternoon the state GOP was on board.

"As long as outside groups, including labor unions, refrain from airing any TV or radio ads dealing with the U.S. Senate race in New York, the Republican Party pledges to do the same," said party chairman Bill Powers.

"In the spirit of the agreement, I'm currently in the process of having our radio ad pulled from New York City and surrounding suburban markets," Powers said.

Clinton said some Democratic state committee ads, including two new ones which were released Thursday, would still be on the air through early next week.

"We're finishing what we've already paid for," she said. "Then I'm done."

Place in history at stake

Only once has a major U.S. Senate candidate renounced soft money. Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold unilaterally banned soft money ads in his successful re-election bid in 1998, according to watchdog groups Common Cause and the Center for Responsive Politics. Feingold's opponent allowed soft money ads.

Clinton and Lazio could be the first candidates to engage in a mutual soft money ban.

"I think if they did this a few months ago ... it would be historic. But I think with six weeks left in the race or seven weeks left in the race, I think it's too little too late," said Matt Keller, deputy legislative director of Common Cause.

But Keller said the move could still set a nationwide example, even this late in the game.

"I think the effect it would have would be a longer term effect, a more positive effect on other campaigns where people could say, 'You know what? They did it in New York, why can't we do it in Nebraska?' or 'Why can't we do it in California? Or Texas?," Keller said.

"They could actually lead on something that is clearly worthwhile and I would like to see that happen," he said.