Clinton Turns to Husband's Charity to Retire Campaign Debt

Sen. Hillary Clinton's debt-ridden presidential campaign is getting help from former President Bill Clinton's charitable foundation, aides said this week.

The William J. Clinton Foundation became the latest group to buy access to the former first lady's huge e-mail list complied during the campaign, ABC News reported on its web site Wednesday.

The price paid by the foundation for the campaign e-mail list, however, will not be reported until next month, and Clinton aides have declined to say how much was paid -- but the price could easily be several hundred thousand dollars, ABC reported.

Clinton is working under a tight deadline to pay off her massive debt because she isn't allowed to raise campaign donations after her expected confirmation as secretary of state.

The report quoted political insiders as saying the e-mail list is second only to that of President-elect Barack Obama's in sheer "size and efficiency in reaching potential donors."

Chelsea Clinton, sent an e-mail to her mother's supporters at HillaryClinton.com this week soliciting for year-end contributions, pointing out the Clinton foundation's work on HIV/AIDS.

Clinton's campaign still owes about $6.3 million to vendors after the New York senator wrote off $13.1 million in loans she personally made to the campaign.

The largest obligation -- $5.3 million -- is owed to the polling firm of Clinton's senior strategist, Mark Penn.

Clinton was able to write off the loan because she and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, have amassed significant wealth since leaving the White House. The couple has reported earnings of $109 million during the period, mostly from Bill Clinton's paid speeches.

The Clintons also have taken several steps to clear the way for the senator to become secretary of state. Last week, under an agreement with the Obama transition team, Bill Clinton released the names of 205,000 donors to his presidential foundation. The former president had insisted for years that the names not be published, saying many donors had agreed to give money on the condition of confidentiality.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.