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WASHINGTON, June 22 (UPI) -- A campaign to draft former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 is raising money and attracting high-profile interest, officials say. The Ready for Hillary political action committee appears to be the leading super PAC among several groups working to draft the former first lady, The Washington Post reported Friday.
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The organization was launched in January and has already drawn 30,000 online supporters as well as former officials from campaigns for both former President Bill and Hillary Clinton, who was elected to the U.S. Senate from New York.
Among them are former Bill Clinton strategist Harold Ickes and Democratic adviser James Carville.
While super PACs are not allowed to coordinate their message with the candidate, several associates close to Hillary Clinton said they gotten no indication whether she approves of the group.
"There are no winks, there are no nods," said Susie Tompkins Buell, who served on her 2008 campaign finance committee.
At least three other registered PACs have started similar drives.
The early efforts of the fledgling group might hurt any actual campaign by Hillary Clinton, said a veteran of her previous campaigns.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the supporter was concerned that Ready for Hillary's efforts "kind of shortens the life span of the icon and lengthens the life span of the politician."
Ready for Hillary has sparked reaction from some Republicans. They have begun a "Stop Hillary" movement that says its goal is to "define the real Hillary."
