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Clinton campaign immediately starts fundraising drive

Posted at 11:17 AM, Apr 13, 2015
and last updated 2015-04-13 11:22:02-04

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Hillary Clinton's campaign has immediately started to reach out to donors after she launched her campaign on Sunday afternoon.

"There will be many opportunities for you to get involved in the coming days and weeks -- but there are things you can do right now to help us get off the ground" Dennis Cheng, the campaign's national finance director, wrote prospective financial backers Sunday evening. CNN obtained a copy of the emailed pitch from one recipient.

The message first suggested a personal contribution up to $27,000 -- the maximum individual amount a person can give to a primary candidate. The memo also offered those who wanted to raise funds from other donors -- so-called bundlers -- a chance to be part of what the campaign is calling "Hillstarters." Cheng wrote "as early adopters of the campaign, Hillstarters will provide the immediate resources to kickstart Hillary for America by committing to raise $27,0000 in the first 30 days."

The outreach to financial backers also continues as campaign officials, including chairman John Podesta, manager Robby Mook and campaign vice chair Huma Abedin, will do what they call the "kickstart finance call" Monday afternoon.

Not all Clinton's fundraising on Sunday was aimed at big money donors. On a conference call Sunday night with alums of Clinton's failed 2008 campaign, Marlon Marshall, Clinton's current director of state operations, urged supporters to push their friends to donate whatever they can.

"Encourage people," he said, "to become a part of the campaign, donate $3, $5, $10, whatever they can."