Ready for Hillary PAC collects millions of dollars without a candidate

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- The super-PAC urging former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to run for president in 2016 raised more than $4 million in 2013, the PAC's spokesman said.

In a memo obtained by CNN, Ready for Clinton -- despite Clinton's silence on whether she'll seek the Democratic nomination again -- heralded a "groundswell" of support during the second half of 2013, saying the number of new supporters nearly quadrupled and donations doubled those in the first six months, the U.S. broadcaster reported Tuesday.

"We have exceeded our goals and are ahead of schedule in raising the funds necessary to build a grassroots army that can be activated the moment Hillary makes a decision," said Ready for Hillary Executive Director Adam Parkhomenko, who worked for Clinton's failed 2008 campaign against President Barack Obama. "This movement is unprecedented -- not because of our staff but because of our supporters -- and we will continue to build capacity across the country to put Hillary in the strongest position possible should she decide to run."

The average contribution was $82, the grassroots organization said. Donations came from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and from military service members abroad.

Ready for Hillary was organized in 2013, soon after Clinton left the State Department.

Clinton indicated she will make a decision about whether she will seek the Democratic nomination for president sometime this year. Polling in hypothetical 2016 match-ups install her as the favorite to claim the nomination.