GOP spotlights fees ahead of Clinton Vegas fundraisers
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Las Vegas (CNN) -- Republicans looking to fault Hillary Clinton hope the few hours the former secretary of state will spend in Las Vegas on Monday will remind voters of her less-than-perfect book roll-out and high-dollar speaking fees.
Clinton, who starts her day in Denver for a fundraiser with Sen. Mark Udall, will make two appearances in Las Vegas on Monday. She will first headline a fundraiser for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at the Aria Hotel and Casino, then the former secretary of state will keynote a fundraiser or the The University of Nevada-Las Vegas Foundation at the swanky Bellagio.
Republicans are seizing on the second speech, where Clinton, the prohibitive favorite for the Democrats' presidential nomination in 2016, will collect $225,000 for her appearance, according to event organizers.
Although a Clinton spokesperson argues that the fee will go straight to the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation, the former first lady's appearance in Las Vegas on Monday was possibly the most controversial and widely talked about paid speech Clinton was set to give this year.
"Clinton's Nevada Pay Day," said an email from the Republican National Committee. "As Clinton's Long-Awaited Silver State Pay Day Arrives, A Reminder Of The Troubles It Caused Her Would-Be Campaign."
"The much anticipated Hillary UNLV speech reminds us that Hillary's exorbitant fees and travel requirements are going to be problematic on her run for the White House," RNC Press Secretary Kirsten Kukowski said in an email.
When Clinton's appearance at the UNLV fundraiser was announced in June, students at the university protested the fact the foundation was spending money to bring Clinton in at the same time that their tuition was going up due to budget issues.
"In keeping with Secretary Clinton's long-standing history of advocating for students in higher education, we as student government leaders are asking that she charitably donate part or all of the $225,000 speaking fee she is reportedly making for this fundraising speech back to the UNLV Foundation of UNLV as a whole," Elias Benjelloun, the UNLV student body president, and Daniel Waqar, the student government's public relations director, wrote in a letter addressed to Clinton's foundation.
The letter goes on to ask Clinton "to do what is right" and donate the money. "This would be an incredible opportunity for Secretary Clinton to remain true to her commitment to higher education," they write.
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GOP spotlights fees ahead of Clinton Vegas fundraisers