What’s Behind Clinton's 11-Day Fundraising Blitz

Hillary Clinton’s focus this week: money.

The Democratic presidential nominee is in the midst of a multi-day, high-dollar fundraising blitz across the country.

After a weekend packed with five fundraisers in Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, (including one with an appearance by Cher), Clinton is traveling today to California where she’ll attend seven fundraisers over the next three days.

She then travels to the Hamptons in New York this weekend for even more fundraising events there.

During this time, the former secretary of state will make few public appearances. (She only has one public event scheduled so far -- a Thursday rally in Reno, Nevada -- as well as an appearance on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” tonight.)

The Clinton campaign’s decision to prioritize private fundraisers over public campaign events appears to be two-fold.

On one hand, according to a person familiar with the campaign’s fundraising strategy, August is considered Clinton’s last opportunity to pack in the fundraisers before her campaign schedule picks up in the fall.

The expectation is that after Labor Day, she won’t be able to attend as many fundraisers because she’ll be tied up with debates and the increasing number of campaign events leading up to Election Day.

And on the other hand, it also appears to come from some level of fear about Donald Trump.

Although the campaign is still raising more money than the Republican nominee, the campaign, at least publicly, has expressed concern that their opponent could ramp up his fundraising efforts.

In a memo sent to donors earlier this month, Clinton’s campaign manager Robby Mook said the amount of money Trump raised in July “should be a wake-up call to all Hillary supporters.”

“We must redouble our efforts in the coming weeks,” he wrote. “We have to take seriously the threat that Donald Trump could outraise us.”

The timing, and location, of Clinton’s fundraisers also conveniently coincides with her usual plans for a summer vacation, which this year she is expected to forgo. Instead, she may use her fundraisers to her advantage.

This past weekend, for instance, Clinton celebrated husband Bill Clinton’s 70th birthday party on Martha’s Vineyard. And perhaps she’ll use her long, upcoming weekend in the Hamptons as a mini break from the campaign trail, too.

Clinton’s running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine, and former president Clinton are also attending fundraising events throughout this time.

Clinton’s fundraisers, which are closed to the press, will include a number of well-known names.

Tonight, Clinton will attend two fundraisers: One at NBA legend Magic Johnson’s home and another at the Beverly Hills home of billionaire Haim Saban, where guests much each contribute or raise a total of $27,000.

On Tuesday, she’ll attend one at the home of Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel. (The couple is filling in for Leonardo DiCaprio, who was the original host but is now unable to attend because of scheduling issues, according to an aide.) And on Wednesday, she’ll be in Silicon Valley fundraising at the home of Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Next weekend in the Hamptons, notable guests at her fundraisers are expected to include Jon Bon Jovi and Jimmy Buffett.

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