Projo Politics Blog

The New York Times ran a pointed story last week quoting some big contributors to Sen. Hillary Clinton’s reelection campaign complaining about how much money the campaign spent on consultants. Clinton had a cakewalk election over an unknown opponent (Republican John Spencer), but she spent $30 million to run up the score.

The Times printed a list of the 11 top Clinton campaign vendors. One of them was Financial Innovations, the Cranston-based merchandising company run by former Democratic state chairman and major Democratic fundraiser Mark Weiner.

Financial Innovations received $213,659 from the Clinton campaign. What did Clinton’s campaign get for the money? Well, says Paul McConnell, company vice president, the usual campaign paraphernalia, including bumper stickers, yard signs, visibility signs and buttons. McConnell says Financial Innovations handled 40 to 50 campaigns in the 2006 election cycle.

Weiner has been battling cancer and has not been as active in the business as he usually is. But Weiner said one long-standing company policy hasn’t changed. “We don’t work for Republicans.” Weiner is a confidant of both Hillary and Bill Clinton and has raised gobs of money for both. Paul McConnell is the brother of Providence lawyer Jack McConnell, another top Democratic Party fundraiser.

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