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Mutual Pal Pushed Palin to Court Clintons

To help image problems, help pay down Hillary's debt, Palin ally urged

By Gabriel Winant, Newser User

Posted May 19, 2009 10:00 AM CDT

(Newser) – A Maryland lawyer who is a sometime adviser to Sarah Palin urged her to forge an alliance with Hillary Clinton, reports Politico. John Coale, aka Greta Van Susteren's hubby, suggested that Palin donate funds from her political action committee to help Clinton retire campaign debt. Palin was open to reaching out to Clinton, said an aide, but hardcore donors “would be crushed” if she passed along their money.

Coale, a Hillary backer who went GOP in the general election, was hoping to help improve Palin’s image. “He thought the Clintons could rein in some of the Democratic firepower aimed at her,” says a Republican. Palin allies see the incident as representative of general problems: The Alaska governor, lacking savvy staff to help guide her, has had to rely on amateurs instead.

[Images (3)]

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In this Feb. 11, 2009, file photo, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin listens to a question during a news conference, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo)

In this 2008 file photo, actress Tina Fey, left, plays Gov. Sarah Palin, and actress Amy Poehler plays Sen. Hillary Clinton on "Saturday Night Live" in New York. (NBC)

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton meets with reporters at the State Department in Washington, May 14, 2009. (AP Photo)

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Contributors who chose between heating their homes and sending in a contribution because they believe in Sarah would be crushed. - Meg Stapleton, Palin aide

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Mutual Pal Pushed Palin to Court Clintons